How long is recovery from pilonidal cyst removal?

It depends on the technique. Minimally invasive or laser procedures typically let people return to work within days to about two weeks, while bigger flap or excision surgery can take longer, and full wound closure can lag behind return-to-activity by weeks.

How long does it take for a pilonidal cyst open wound to heal?

When the wound is left open to heal on its own (secondary intention) after excision, studies report average healing times of roughly 8 to 15 weeks, with nearly all wounds closed by around three months but some taking longer.

How long does it take for a pilonidal cyst to heal after it's drained?

Only one small study in this review directly compared drainage with excision, and it did not report an exact number of days — it found drainage healed faster than excision but came with a much higher chance of the cyst returning (54% vs 19%).

How long does a pilonidal cyst take to heal on its own, without any treatment?

This has not been studied. Every study we found followed people after some treatment — surgery, laser, drainage, or a chemical like phenol. There is no published evidence on what happens if a pilonidal cyst is left completely untreated.

Does it matter if the wound is stitched closed or left open?

Yes — studies consistently find open wounds (left to heal by secondary intention) take much longer to close than wounds that are stitched or reconstructed with a flap, sometimes twice as long or more, though open wounds may have different recurrence trade-offs.

How long does a pilonidal cyst take to heal?

Name: How long does a pilonidal cyst take to heal?
Published: 2026-11-10
Keywords: how long does a pilonidal cyst take to heal, how long is recovery from pilonidal cyst removal, how long does it take for pilonidal cyst open wound to heal, how long does a pilonidal cyst take to heal after it is drained, how long for pilonidal cyst to heal after draining, how long does a pilonidal cyst take to heal on its own, how long does it take for a pilonidal cyst wound to heal

In patients who have had a pilonidal cyst/sinus drained, excised, or otherwise surgically treated, how long does the resulting wound take to heal and how long until return to normal activity?

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Evidence review in plain language · compiled 2026-11-10 · checked 2026-11-10 · next 2026-12-10 · automated review, how it works

Bottom line

How long a pilonidal cyst wound takes to heal depends almost entirely on which treatment was used — small keyhole or laser procedures typically close in 2 to 4 weeks, while an open wound left to heal on its own after excision often takes 6 to 14 weeks or longer.

Studies that tracked minimally invasive procedures (laser, endoscopic, pit-picking) report median healing of roughly 2 to 4 weeks. Studies of open excision left to heal by itself (secondary intention) report median or average healing of roughly 8 to 15 weeks, with some wounds still open at 3-4 months. Every one of these studies followed people who had already been treated — none followed someone with an untreated cyst to see how it behaves if left completely alone.

How well studied

Well studied

A good-quality systematic review of studies in patients answers this question directly.

This question asks how a condition behaves over time, not whether a treatment works, so there is no benefit-or-harm verdict. What can be shown is how well it has been studied.

answer it directly: 40answer it directly
studies found: 175studies found
randomised trials: 16randomised trials
people studied: 58,224people studied
reviews of trials: 22reviews of trials
years covered: 2020–2026years covered
finished, never published: 1finished, never published

What the research shows

Time to complete healing after minimally invasive treatment (laser, endoscopic/EPSiT/PEPSiT, pit-picking)
Consistently found across many studies to be faster than open surgery, with median or mean healing times clustering around 2 to 4 weeks (examples: 14 days, 15 days, 20 days, 23.4 days, 24.6 days, 4 weeks, 4.1 weeks).[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
Found in studies
Time to complete healing after open excision left to heal on its own (secondary intention)
Consistently found to be much longer than closed techniques — figures range from an average of about 8 weeks to as long as 98-108 days, with nearly all wounds closed by around 3 months but some taking longer.[1,2,3,4,5,6]
Found in studies
Time to complete healing after flap or stitched-closure surgery (Karydakis, Limberg, keystone, etc.)
Consistently faster than open healing, with reported times mostly between about 13 and 36 days depending on the specific flap technique.[1,2,3,4,5,6]
Found in studies
Time to return to work or normal daily activity
Consistently reported to be shorter after minimally invasive or flap procedures (often 1 to 21 days) than after open wound care (reported as taking 34+ days longer in one large cohort).[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
Found in studies
Healing time after simple incision and drainage versus excision
Only one small retrospective study compared these directly; it found drainage healed faster than radical excision but gave no exact number of days, and excision had much lower recurrence (19% vs 54%).[1]
Too little evidence
Recurrence of the cyst/sinus after the wound has healed
Consistently measured across many studies, but the rate varies widely by technique and by how long follow-up lasted — from about 1-10% at 1-5 years with some flap techniques up to 27-52% at longer follow-up with pit-picking or secondary-intention healing.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
Found in studies
How a pilonidal cyst behaves if left completely untreated (no drainage, no surgery, no chemical treatment)
No study in this table followed people who had no treatment at all. Every study followed patients after some form of surgery, laser, drainage, or chemical (phenol) treatment, so there is no evidence here about healing time without any intervention.
Not studied

What the studies found

Minimally invasive treatments (laser, endoscopic/EPSiT, pit-picking) consistently show faster wound closure, often 2 to 4 weeks, than open excision left to heal on its own.[1,2,3,4,5]
Closed flap or stitched surgery generally heals faster than an open wound left to close by itself, with multiple studies finding healing roughly halved or better.[1,2,3,4]
Return to work or normal activity is often possible within days to about two weeks after minimally invasive or flap surgery, well before the wound is fully closed.[1,2,3,4,5,6]

Important limitations

Most studies are retrospective and not randomized, meaning patients were not assigned healing techniques by chance — people with worse disease may have ended up in the open-healing or excision groups, which can distort comparisons.[1,2,3,4]
Follow-up length varies enormously between studies, from a few weeks to several years, and many report only whether healing eventually happened rather than exactly how long it took.[1,2,3,4]
Studies measured and defined "healed" in different ways, and used different follow-up periods, which makes the many reported healing-time numbers hard to compare directly across studies.[1,2]

What kind of studies

Retrospective88 · 50%
Prospective cohort21 · 12%
Case series16 · 9%
Randomised trial16 · 9%
Meta-analysis14 · 8%
Narrative review10 · 6%
Systematic review8 · 5%
Registry1 · 1%
Guideline1 · 1%

The key studies

Tokocin et al. 2026
Surgical Treatment Outcomes for Primary Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study of 2222 Patients (2006-2020)
Most recurrence happens within two years.RetrospectiveModerate qualityRelated question
2,222 peopleminimum follow-up of 5 years
5-year cumulative recurrence was 7.9%, most recurrences happened within the first 2 years, with a median time to recurrence of 20 months (IQR 12-36); recurrence and infection rates varied significantly by surgical technique
Who was studied
people who had surgery for a first-time pilonidal sinus/cyst
What they received
various surgical techniques (e.g. Karydakis flap, Bascom cleft lift, Limberg flap, Dufourmentel flap)
Compared with
lay-open (open wound healing) treatment
Main outcome
time to recurrence and postoperative infection after surgery
Quality
Large single-centre retrospective cohort with long follow-up gives useful real-world data, but lack of randomisation and reliance on surgical records limit certainty.
Limitations
Retrospective design, single centre, excludes recurrent disease cases, and reports recurrence timing rather than wound healing time itself.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n We retrospectively analysed 2222 patients with primary PSD
- population patients with primary PSD who underwent surgery between January 2006 and December 2020
- intervention Nine surgical techniques were evaluated.
- comparator Compared with lay-open treatment, the Karydakis flap (HR 0.19, 95% CI 0.12-0.30)
- primaryOutcome We compared long-term recurrence and postoperative infection among nine surgical techniques
- result Most recurrences occurred within the first 2 years, with a median time to recurrence of 20 months (IQR 12-36).
Int Wound J · PMID 42633928 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Saleem et al. 2026
Surgical management of pilonidal sinus disease in pediatric population: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Healing time ranges from 8 to 98 days depending on surgery.Meta-analysisModerate qualityRelated question
5,075 people2026
Healing time varied greatly by surgical technique: open wound healing took up to 98 days, while off-midline closure healed in as little as 8 days; minimally invasive techniques allowed return to daily activities within 1-3 days
Who was studied
Children and teens (18 or younger) who had surgery for pilonidal cyst/sinus disease
What they received
Different surgical treatments for pilonidal disease (open wound healing, midline closure, off-midline closure, minimally invasive techniques)
Main outcome
Time for the wound to heal after surgery, among other recovery measures
Quality
It combines data from 59 studies of children with different surgery types and quality ratings, so healing times are not from one consistent comparison.
Limitations
Includes many different surgical techniques and pediatric-only population, with heterogeneity across studies noted by the authors
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n identified 59 studies (N = 5075)
- population patients ≤18 years with PD
- intervention Various surgical approaches
- primaryOutcome recurrence, wound complications, and recovery outcomes across surgical techniques
- result Open healing showed the highest recurrence (20.1%) and moderate wound complication rates (16.2%), with healing times up to 98 days.
- result Off-midline closures had the lowest recurrence (10.2%) and moderate complications (19.5%), with healing times as short as 8 days.
- result early return to ADL (1-3 days)
J Pediatr Surg · PMID 41999968 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Huurman et al. 2025
Prospective nationwide audit of short-term outcomes after surgery for chronic pilonidal sinus disease in the Netherlands
Healing took 6-11 weeks depending on surgery type.RegistryModerate quality
405 people42 days
Wound healing took a median of 41 days after minimally invasive surgery versus 78 days after excision with open healing, and return to daily activities took a median of 14 days with minimally invasive techniques; overall follow-up was a median of 42 days.
Who was studied
adults who had surgery for chronic pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
time until the wound healed after surgery
Quality
It is a large nationwide observational audit with real-world numbers, but follow-up was short (median 42 days) and treatment was not randomized, so healing times may not reflect eventual full healing or be fully comparable between groups.
Limitations
Short median follow-up of 42 days, non-randomized comparison of techniques, and wound healing rates were still well under 50% at the time of assessment, so full healing times may be underestimated.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population All patients with PSD and who underwent surgery were included during a 3-month inclusion period
- n 405 patients had chronic disease
- primaryOutcome Secondary endpoints included symptoms, complications, recurrent open wounds, wound healing rate, time to wound healing, time to resume daily activities
- result Minimally invasive techniques showed a significantly higher wound healing rate (41.1% vs 28.6%) and a shorter median time to closure (41 vs 78 days) compared to excision with secondary healing. They also had the shortest median time to resume daily activities (14 days).
- followUp The median follow-up period was 42 days.
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 40498166 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Huurman et al. 2024
Postoperative Outcomes of Bascom Cleft Lift Versus Excision With Secondary Wound Healing for Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis
Cleft lift healed faster than open woundRetrospectiveLow quality
272 people12 months
Wound healing was successful in 84.4% after Bascom cleft lift versus 32.6% after excision with secondary wound healing, with median healing time of 55 days versus 101 days respectively; complications were more common after Bascom cleft lift (28.9% vs 13.2%)
Who was studied
People treated for pilonidal sinus disease at three hospitals in the Netherlands
What they received
Bascom cleft lift surgery
Compared with
Excision with secondary wound healing (open wound left to heal on its own)
Main outcome
Whether the wound healed successfully and how long it took to heal
Quality
This is a retrospective, non-randomized comparison from only three centers with short follow-up and no patient satisfaction data, so selection bias could affect the results.
Limitations
Retrospective design prone to selection bias and residual confounding; short follow-up period may underestimate true recurrence rates; no patient satisfaction data collected
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Patients who underwent excision with secondary wound healing or Bascom cleft lift between July 2015 and August 2021 were included.
- intervention Bascom cleft lift
- comparator excision with secondary wound healing
- primaryOutcome Primary end points included the rate of successful wound healing and the time to achieve healing.
- result The wound healing rate was 84.4% after Bascom cleft lift versus 32.6% after excision and secondary wound healing ( p < 0.001), with a median time to wound healing of 55 and 101 days, respectively ( p < 0.001). Complications were 28.9% for Bascom cleft lift versus 13.2% for excision and secondary wound healing ( p = 0.003).
- n Of 272 patients, 128 underwent Bascom cleft lift and 144 patients underwent excision and secondary wound healing.
Dis Colon Rectum · PMID 39115207 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Cai et al. 2024
Midline and off-midline wound closure methods after surgical treatment for pilonidal sinus
Healing time varies by surgical closure method.Meta-analysisLow quality
3,667 people2024
Off-midline closure healed about 5 days faster than conventional midline closure (MD -5.23 days), and in one trial off-midline closure healed in a median of 14 days versus 51 days for tension-free midline closure; healing time was similar between Karydakis and Limberg flap techniques (MD 0.36 days).
Who was studied
adults who had surgery for pilonidal sinus, comparing wound closed in the midline versus to the side of the midline
What they received
off-midline wound closure methods after pilonidal sinus surgery
Compared with
midline wound closure methods (conventional and tension-free) after pilonidal sinus surgery
Main outcome
time until the surgical wound healed
Quality
The review pooled many randomized trials, but most of the specific healing-time comparisons were rated low or very low certainty because of few studies, small numbers, and inconsistent results.
Limitations
Findings are predominantly based on young adult studies; many comparisons relied on few trials with low or very low certainty evidence, and the authors call for larger, better-designed trials.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n We included 33 studies with 3667 analysed participants.
- population We included parallel RCTs involving participants undergoing midline closure without flap techniques and off-midline closure for pilonidal sinus treatment.
- intervention Off-midline closure probably reduces the time to wound healing (mean difference (MD) -5.23 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) -7.55 to -2.92 days; 3 studies, 300 participants; moderate-certainty evidence).
- comparator Off-midline closure versus conventional midline closure
- primaryOutcome The critical outcomes included wound healing (time to wound healing, proportion of wounds healed), recurrence rate, wound infection, wound dehiscence, time to return to work, and quality of life.
- result Off-midline closure may reduce the time to wound healing (median 14 days in off-midline closure versus 51 days in tension-free midline closure; 1 study, 116 participants; low-certainty evidence)
- result Karydakis flap probably results in little to no difference in time to wound healing compared to Limberg flap (MD 0.36 days, 95% CI -1.49 to 2.22; 6 studies, 526 participants; moderate-certainty evidence).
- limitations This Cochrane review examines the midline and off-midline wound closure options for pilonidal sinus, predominantly based on young adult studies.
- limitations To more accurately determine the benefits and potential harms of these closure techniques, further large-scale and meticulously-designed trials are essential.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 38226663 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Huurman et al. 2023
Non-excisional techniques for the treatment of intergluteal pilonidal sinus disease: a systematic review
Heals in days to weeks, often recursSystematic reviewModerate quality
8,100 people2023
Healing rates ranged from 67 to 100%, wound healing time was between three and forty-seven days, and return to daily activities varied from one to nine days, but recurrence rates were high (0 to 29%)
Who was studied
People treated for pilonidal sinus disease with non-excisional techniques
Main outcome
How long the wound takes to heal and recurrence after non-excisional treatment
Quality
It pools many studies with a large total number of patients, but the included studies likely vary a lot in design and quality, and the review does not grade individual study quality.
Limitations
The review combines many different non-excisional techniques and studies with varying follow-up times, which may affect how comparable the healing and recurrence figures are.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n 31 studies comprising 8100 patients were included
- population Non-excisional techniques for pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) have gained popularity over the last years.
- primaryOutcome Outcomes were recurrence rates, healing rates, complication rates, wound healing times and time taken to return to daily activities.
- result Non-excisional techniques had overall healing rates ranging from 67 to 100%.
- result the wound healing time was between three and forty-seven days
- result The return to daily activities varied from one to nine days.
- result Recurrence rates after additional laser, phenol and endoscopic techniques varied from 0 to 29%.
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 37930579 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Herrod et al. 2022
Dressings and topical agents for the management of open wounds after surgical treatment for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus
Healing takes weeks to months, timing uncertain.Meta-analysisVery low qualityRelated question
932 people2022
Across 11 trials, reported median healing times ranged roughly from about 54 to 85 days depending on the dressing or topical agent used, but the evidence for any specific healing time was low to very low certainty and no study reported healing at 6 or 12 months
Who was studied
Adults who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease and were left with an open wound to heal
Main outcome
Time for the surgical wound to heal completely
Quality
All included trials had a high risk of bias in at least one area and most results came from single small studies, so the certainty of any healing-time estimate is low to very low.
Limitations
No studies provided data on proportion of wounds healed at 6 or 12 months, all studies were at high risk of bias except one, and results on time to healing were inconsistent between studies.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n We included 11 RCTs comprising 932 participants.
- population We included studies with participants who had undergone any type of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease surgery and were left with an open wound.
- primaryOutcome It is unclear whether TNPWT reduces time to wound healing compared with conventional open wound healing
- result Zinc oxide mesh may make little or no difference to time to wound healing compared with placebo (comparison 2; median 54 days in the zinc oxide mesh group versus 62 days in the placebo mesh group; low-certainty evidence).
- result Dialkylcarbamoyl chloride (DACC)-coated dressings may make little or no difference to time to wound healing compared with alginate dressings (comparison 8; median 69 (95% CI 62 to 72) days in the DACC group versus 71 (95% CI 69 to 85) days in the alginate group; 1 study, 246 participants; low-certainty evidence).
- qualityWhy All studies were at high risk of bias in at least one domain, whilst one study was judged to be at low risk of bias in all but one domain.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 35593897 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Petersen et al. 2021
[Wound Healing Disorders after Excision and Open Treatment for Pilonidal Sinus]
Heals in about two months usually.Narrative reviewLow quality
size not givenup to three to four months
wounds healed on average within about two months, nearly all by three months, but 2-5% had significantly delayed healing persisting beyond three to four months
Who was studied
people treated with surgical excision and open wound care for pilonidal sinus/cyst
Main outcome
how long the open wound takes to heal after excision
Quality
this is a narrative review summarizing prior published data without a defined single study population or systematic methodology described.
Limitations
review article without systematic search methodology described; relies on pooled data from varied studies including a military cohort.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population wound healing disorders after excision of pilonidalis sinus
- primaryOutcome Healing time and frequency are determined on the basis of current data
- result the wound usually heals after a mean of two months
- result almost all wounds have healed in the period up to three months
- result The frequency of significantly delayed wound healing is given in the literature as 2 - 5%
- result The excision wound of pilonidalis sinus should be healed after three to four months at the latest
Zentralbl Chir · PMID 33336345 · Read it on PubMed ↗

All 175 studiesEvery study that answered the question, with its design, size and result.

The other 168 studiesEverything else the search returned, including anything retracted.

Guna et al. 2026
Endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment versus Limberg flap reconstruction for uncomplicated pilonidal sinus disease: a prospective comparative study
Faster recovery with keyhole surgery; exact healing time not given.Prospective cohortModerate qualityRelated question
80 people6 months
The abstract does not give a specific healing time in days or weeks; it only reports that patients treated with the keyhole technique (EPSiT) had a shorter hospital stay and returned to normal activity sooner than those treated with Limberg flap surgery, with low and similar recurrence in both groups at 6 months.
Who was studied
adults with an uncomplicated pilonidal sinus who had surgery
Main outcome
pain, infection, seroma, wound opening up, and sinus coming back at 6 months
Quality
It is a non-randomised comparison of two surgeries, so differences in recovery time could be influenced by which patients were chosen for each operation rather than the operation itself.
Limitations
Observational, not randomized; no exact healing duration (e.g. days to full wound closure) is reported, only comparative recovery measures between two surgical techniques.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Eighty patients were included (EPSiT n = 40; Limberg n = 40).
- population adult patients with primary, uncomplicated sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus treated with either EPSiT or Limberg flap reconstruction
- primaryOutcome Primary outcomes were postoperative pain, surgical-site infection, seroma formation, wound dehiscence, and recurrence at 6 months.
- result EPSiT was associated with significantly shorter operative time, lower postoperative pain scores, reduced length of hospital stay, and earlier return to normal activity (p < 0.05).
- result Six-month recurrence rates were low and comparable between groups.
Langenbecks Arch Surg · PMID 42988951 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Hua et al. 2026
Ultrasound-guided versus conventional sinus tract laser closure for adolescent sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease: a retrospective comparative study
Faster healing, fewer recurrences with ultrasound guidance.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
64 people18.0 (8.0, 37.8) months (ultrasound-guided group) and 20.5 (9.5, 35.8) months (conventional group)
The ultrasound-guided group healed faster and had fewer recurrences (4% vs 25%) than the standard laser group, though time to return to normal activities was similar between groups.
Who was studied
Teenagers (18 or younger) who had surgery for a tailbone pilonidal cyst/sinus
What they received
Laser closure of the sinus tract guided by ultrasound
Compared with
Standard laser closure of the sinus tract without ultrasound guidance
Main outcome
How fast the wound healed and whether the cyst came back
Quality
It's a small, single-center, retrospective comparison of two surgical variants, and the authors themselves say the results need confirming in larger studies.
Limitations
Retrospective design, single center, small sample (64 patients), compares two treatment variants rather than measuring overall healing time from treatment, and authors call it a 'preliminary' result needing larger-scale validation.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n 64 adolescent (18 years or younger) patients with SPD who underwent either SiLaC or US-guided SiLaC at a single center from March 2021 to January 2025
- population 64 adolescent (18 years or younger) patients with SPD who underwent either SiLaC or US-guided SiLaC
- intervention US-guided SiLaC
- comparator conventional SiLaC
- primaryOutcome recorded demographics, surgical history, lifestyle factors, laser parameters, short-term complications, healing and recurrence rates, wound closure time, and recovery time
- result The US-guided group showed significantly lower intraoperative laser duration and energy use (p < 0.05), and faster wound closure (p = 0.017). Recurrence was 4% in the US group vs. 25% in the conventional group (p = 0.037).
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 42934421 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Osmanov et al. 2026
Comparative outcomes of phenol therapy and Karydakis flap in pilonidal sinus disease: A retrospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up
Healing took 15 to 36 days depending on treatment.RetrospectiveLow quality
125 people1 year
wound healing took about 15 days after phenol therapy versus about 36 days after Karydakis flap surgery
Who was studied
patients with primary sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease treated surgically
What they received
phenol therapy (chemical ablation)
Compared with
Karydakis flap surgery
Main outcome
time for the wound to heal after treatment
Quality
it is a retrospective, non-randomized comparison of two treatments at one center, so healing times could be influenced by factors other than the treatment itself.
Limitations
Retrospective design, not randomized, single-center, telephone follow-up for some patients.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n This retrospective cohort study included 125 consecutive patients treated between January 2024 and January 2025.
- population patients with primary sacrococcygeal PSD
- intervention phenol therapy (PT) has emerged as an effective outpatient treatment
- comparator Seventy-seven patients underwent the KF procedure
- primaryOutcome wound healing time, return-to-work time, postoperative complications, and recurrence rates were evaluated
- result Wound healing time was significantly shorter in the phenol group than in the KF group (15.4 ± 8.4 vs 36.1 ± 7.6 days, P < .005).
Medicine (Baltimore) · PMID 42700095 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Liu et al. 2026
MRI susceptibility-related artifacts following prolonged use of silver-containing dressings: A case report
Wound stalled 8 months, healed after fistula found and fixedCase seriesVery low qualityRelated question
1 people2026
The wound did not heal for 8 months after pilonidal surgery; this was found to be due to an undiagnosed anal fistula, and the wound healed after the fistula was surgically treated
Who was studied
33-year-old man with a nonhealing wound after pilonidal sinus excision
Main outcome
How long the wound took to heal and why it was not healing
Quality
This is a single case report, so it cannot reliably tell us how long pilonidal wounds usually take to heal.
Limitations
Single patient case report focused on MRI imaging artifacts rather than typical pilonidal wound healing; the nonhealing was due to an unusual complicating anal fistula, not representative of typical cases.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population A 33-year-old man presented with a nonhealing wound after pilonidal sinus excision.
- primaryOutcome Because of delayed wound healing and recurrent symptoms, pelvic MRI was performed to evaluate the cause.
- result He had used silver-containing dressings intermittently for postoperative wound care over an 8-month period.
- result The patient was diagnosed with an anal fistula associated with a chronic nonhealing postoperative wound.
- result The patient underwent surgical treatment, and follow-up showed satisfactory wound healing.
- n A 33-year-old man presented with a nonhealing wound after pilonidal sinus excision.
Medicine (Baltimore) · PMID 42700038 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Başar et al. 2026
Outcomes of minimally invasive pit-picking treatment in adolescents with uncomplicated pilonidal disease: a retrospective single-center study
Recurrence in 14%, not healing timeRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
42 people15 months
Recurrence occurred in 6 of 42 patients (14.3%), with a median time to recurrence of 10 months; median follow-up was 15 months; the abstract does not report how long the wound itself took to heal
Who was studied
adolescents aged 12-18 who had pit-picking surgery for pilonidal disease
Main outcome
recurrence and time to recurrence after treatment
Quality
small retrospective single-center study of a specific group (uncomplicated adolescent disease) that reports recurrence timing, not actual wound healing duration
Limitations
Retrospective, single center, small sample, only tracks recurrence after a specific minimally invasive procedure rather than overall healing time
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population adolescents aged 12-18 years who underwent pit-picking for pilonidal disease
- primaryOutcome recurrence rates, and need for reintervention were analyzed
- result Recurrence occurred in six patients (14.3%), with a median time to recurrence of 10 months
- result The median follow-up duration was 15 months.
- n A total of 42 patients were included
Pediatr Surg Int · PMID 42593573 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Mei et al. 2026
Outcomes reported in comparative studies of surgical management of pilonidal disease: Systematic review to inform a core outcome set
No actual healing time reported.Systematic reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given2026
The review catalogued which outcomes studies report (recurrence, complications, pain, wound healing) but did not report actual healing durations; it found wound healing was reported as a primary outcome in only 32.9% of studies and follow-up durations varied substantially across studies without a specific healing time given.
Who was studied
people who had surgery for pilonidal cyst/sinus disease
What they received
surgical management of pilonidal disease (various types)
Main outcome
how outcomes like healing, recurrence and complications were reported in studies, not actual healing time
Quality
This is a review of what outcomes studies measure, not a study measuring actual healing time, and the authors explicitly did not assess risk of bias or treatment effects.
Limitations
The authors state risk-of-bias assessment and GRADE appraisal were not undertaken because the goal was mapping outcome reporting, not estimating effects or durations; follow-up duration was noted to vary substantially but no actual figures are given.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Randomised controlled trials and comparative observational studies evaluating surgical interventions for pilonidal disease were eligible.
- intervention surgical management of pilonidal disease
- primaryOutcome Among outcomes designated as primary, wound healing was most common (51 studies, 32.9%), followed by recurrence (35, 22.6%) and postoperative complications (25, 16.1%).
- result Definitions, measurement instruments, assessment timepoints and overall follow-up duration varied substantially across studies.
- result Because the objective was to map outcome reporting rather than estimate treatment effects, risk-of-bias assessment and GRADE appraisal were not undertaken.
Colorectal Dis · PMID 42347916 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Larsen et al. 2026
The association between skin-suturing technique, prolonged healing and recurrence after Bascom's Cleft lift surgery
Most heal by 14 weeks; slow healing raises relapse risk.RetrospectiveModerate quality
540 peopleup to 14 weeks for healing assessment, 5 years for recurrence
76% of patients healed without problems; the rest had prolonged healing. At 5 years, cyst recurrence was higher in those whose wound took longer to heal (14.0%) than in those who healed normally (7.0%).
Who was studied
People who had Bascom's Cleft lift surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
Whether the wound had fully healed (epithelialized) by 14 weeks after surgery, and whether the cyst came back later
Quality
Large single-centre dataset with long follow-up, but it is a retrospective chart review so healing and recurrence could be affected by factors the study did not control for.
Limitations
Single hospital, retrospective design, and the study's main aim was comparing suturing techniques rather than describing healing time itself.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients who underwent BCL surgery at Randers Regional Hospital between 2016 and 2022
- primaryOutcome Prolonged healing was defined as lack of complete epithelialization at the second post-surgical follow-up (maximum 14 weeks post-surgery).
- result There was no difference in time-to-healing among the suture groups with a 76% rate of primary healing in both groups.
- result the CIP of recurrence was 14.0% among patients with prolonged healing and 7.0% among patients with primary healing (p < 0.05)
- n We analysed the data of 540 unique patients who underwent BCL surgery
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 42313194 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Habeeb et al. 2026
Karydakis Versus Limberg Flap in Primary Sacrococcygeal Pilonidal Sinus: A Retrospective Comparative Study of Functional Recovery
Faster return to activity after one surgery typeRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
352 people1 year
Patients who had the Karydakis flap resumed sexual activity and driving sooner than those who had the Limberg flap
Who was studied
employed, sexually active adults who had surgery for primary pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Karydakis flap surgery
Compared with
Limberg flap surgery
Main outcome
time until patients could resume sexual activity and driving after surgery
Quality
It is a retrospective, non-randomized cohort comparing two surgery types, so recall and selection biases could affect the reported recovery times.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no randomization, relies on patient-reported recall at 1 year, and focuses on functional recovery (sex, driving) rather than overall wound healing time.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population employed, sexually active patients who underwent surgery for primary PSD (July 2017-July 2024)
- intervention KF patients resumed sexual activity earlier (2.88 ± 0.7 vs. 4.58 ± 1.1 weeks
- comparator LF reported lower sexual satisfaction (mean 3.94 vs. 2.15
- primaryOutcome The primary outcome was time to sexual activity resumption; the secondary outcome was time to resumption of driving.
- result KF resumed driving earlier (median 9 vs. 19 days; r = 0.7, large effect, p < 0.001) and had longer sitting tolerance
- n A total of 352 patients were divided into 176 KF and 176 LF.
World J Surg · PMID 42311045 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Komiyama et al. 2026
Minimally Invasive Phenol Treatment for Pilonidal Sinus: A Single-Center Case Series From Japan
Short hospital stay; no recurrence seenCase seriesVery low qualityRelated question
11 peoplemedian, 331 days; range, 100-979
Median postoperative hospital stay was 2 days and no recurrence occurred during a median follow-up of 331 days; the abstract does not state how long the wound took to fully heal
Who was studied
People with pilonidal sinus who had phenol injection treatment after excision of pits and curettage
What they received
Phenol injection treatment for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
Hospital stay length and recurrence after phenol treatment
Quality
Small retrospective case series of only 11 patients from one center, with no comparison group and no explicit measure of wound healing time.
Limitations
Retrospective single-center design, very small sample (n=11), no direct report of time to wound healing, variable follow-up duration (100-979 days)
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population We retrospectively reviewed patients with pilonidal sinus who underwent phenol treatment at our institution between 2020 and 2025.
- intervention undiluted phenol was injected into the cavity and subsequently neutralized with ethanol
- primaryOutcome Clinical data, including patient characteristics, number of pits, operative time, postoperative hospital stay, complications, and recurrence, were analyzed.
- result the median postoperative hospital stay was 2 days (range, 1-6). Postoperative bleeding occurred in two patients and was successfully managed conservatively. No recurrence was observed during the follow-up period (median, 331 days; range, 100-979).
- n A total of 11 patients were included in the study.
J Dermatol · PMID 42304603 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Yildirak et al. 2026
Early postoperative outcomes of sinus laser closure versus crystallized phenol treatment for pilonidal sinus disease: a retrospective comparative study
Most symptoms gone by one monthRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
230 people1 month
At 1 week, the SiLaC group had less itching, burning, discharge, pain, and quicker return to daily activities than the CPT group; by 1 month most outcomes were similar between the two groups, though purulent discharge was still a bit more common in the CPT group
Who was studied
adults with pilonidal sinus disease who had either sinus laser closure (SiLaC) or crystallized phenol treatment (CPT), followed up at 1 week and 1 month after treatment
What they received
sinus laser closure (SiLaC)
Compared with
crystallized phenol treatment (CPT)
Main outcome
patient satisfaction, quality of life, symptom severity (itching, burning, discharge), pain, and time to return to work, measured at 1 week and 1 month after treatment
Quality
It's a retrospective study from one center with follow-up only out to 1 month, so it doesn't show how long full healing actually takes.
Limitations
Retrospective design, single tertiary center, short follow-up limited to 1 week and 1 month, and no reported data on actual wound/pit closure rates despite being listed as a secondary outcome.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n A total of 230 patients were analyzed (SiLaC n = 93; CPT n = 137)
- population Patients with PSD undergoing SiLaC or CPT with scheduled 1-week and 1-month follow-up assessments were included.
- intervention sinus laser closure (SiLaC)
- comparator crystallized phenol treatment (CPT)
- primaryOutcome The primary outcomes were patient satisfaction, health-related quality of life (SF-36), symptom severity (itching, burning, purulent discharge), pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale), and time to return to work, all assessed at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively.
- result At 1 month, most outcomes were comparable between groups, although purulent discharge remained higher in the CPT group (1 [1-2] versus 1 [1-1], p = 0.045).
- followUp 1-week and 1-month follow-up assessments
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 42237035 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Esposito et al. 2026
Pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT) as standard of care results over 10 years' experience in 507 patients
Low recurrence, mostly within 3 monthsRetrospectiveLow quality
507 people2 months-23 months
the abstract does not give a specific healing time; it reports that disease recurred in 53/507 patients (10.4%), occurring mostly within 3 months after surgery (range 2 to 23 months)
Who was studied
teenagers and children treated surgically for pilonidal sinus disease (primary or recurrent)
What they received
pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT), a minimally invasive surgical technique with postoperative ozone oil dressing (and platelet-rich plasma in later patients)
Main outcome
healing rate and time after treatment, plus recurrence of the sinus
Quality
this is a retrospective single-center case series with no comparison group and no explicit numeric healing time reported, only recurrence timing.
Limitations
retrospective design, single surgical center, no untreated or comparator group, and no quantified wound-healing duration given despite stating healing time was assessed
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n We operated 507 patients (313 boys and 194 girls)
- population Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is an acquired inflammatory condition of the gluteal cleft predominantly affecting teenagers.
- intervention pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT)
- intervention Dressing after surgery was performed with ozone oil products in every patient and in the last 18 months Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) has been added to the intra and post-operative care too.
- primaryOutcome Data regarding success rate, healing rate/time, post-operative management, short- and long-term outcome and patient satisfaction were assessed.
- result Disease recurrence occurred in 53/507 patients (10.4%), mostly within 3 months (range 2 months-23 months), and all were successfully re-operated with PEPSiT with no further recurrence.
Sci Rep · PMID 42168379 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Arslan et al. 2026
Does laser treatment affect outcome in pilonidal sinus disease? Long-term multicenter retrospective analysis of pit-picking alone vs. pit-picking with laser
Healed in about two weeks.RetrospectiveModerate qualityRelated question
306 people5 years
Complete healing was achieved in 97.4% of patients, with a median time of 14 days
Who was studied
Patients who had pit-picking surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Pit-picking surgery (alone or with laser) for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
Time to complete healing after treatment
Quality
It is a multicenter but retrospective, non-randomized study comparing two surgical variants, so bias and confounding can't be ruled out.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no randomization, exclusion of patients with incomplete follow-up, and focus on a specific minimally invasive technique (pit-picking) rather than excision or open wound care.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Of 306 patients, 109 (35.6%) underwent pit-picking alone, and 197 (64.4%) received pit-picking with LT.
- population Patients who underwent pit-picking surgery for PSD between June 2017 and March 2025 were included.
- intervention Pit-picking surgeries performed with or without LT were compared.
- primaryOutcome Secondary outcomes were postoperative pain, time to complete healing, complications, return to work, and costs.
- result Complete healing was achieved in 97.4% of patients, with a median time of 14 days.
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 42128975 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Hlaing et al. 2026
Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment Versus Excisional Surgery: A Retrospective Comparison at an Australian Tertiary Centre
Most healed; exact healing time not reported.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
180 people2026
Overall, 87.8% of operative episodes achieved primary healing, with no significant difference between endoscopic and excisional approaches; recurrence after healing occurred in 26.6% of episodes overall. The abstract does not state how long healing took, only whether it occurred.
Who was studied
Patients aged 12 and older who had elective pilonidal cyst/sinus surgery (either endoscopic treatment or excisional surgery) at an Australian hospital
Main outcome
Whether the surgical wound healed completely (primary healing) and whether the cyst came back after healing (recurrence)
Quality
This is a retrospective, non-randomised comparison of two surgeries at one hospital, and it reports whether healing happened rather than how long healing actually took.
Limitations
Retrospective design, single tertiary centre, analysis combined repeat procedures, and no time-to-healing data were reported — only whether healing had occurred by the time of review.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n The cohort included 180 elective operative episodes in 144 patients
- population consecutive elective pilonidal operations in patients aged ≥ 12 at a tertiary Australian hospital
- primaryOutcome The primary outcomes were primary healing and recurrence after healing.
- result Primary healing occurred in 158 episodes (87.8%) and did not differ between EPSiT and excision (89.6% vs. 84.6%; p = 0.330). Recurrence occurred in 26.6% and was similar between groups (29.1% vs. 21.8%; p = 0.322).
ANZ J Surg · PMID 42112873 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Wael et al. 2026
Comparing keystone and Limberg flaps for pilonidal sinus: Does flap choice influence patient satisfaction?
About 2 weeks to heal with flap surgery.Randomised trialLow qualityRelated question
50 people6 months
Wound healing took about 13.5 days with the keystone flap compared with 17.1 days with the Limberg flap, and patients returned to normal activity sooner with the keystone flap.
Who was studied
adults having surgery to remove a pilonidal sinus
What they received
keystone perforator island flap reconstruction after sinus removal
Compared with
Limberg flap reconstruction after sinus removal
Main outcome
patient satisfaction with the surgery at 6 months
Quality
It is a randomized trial, but with only 50 patients from what appears to be a single center, the healing-time estimates are imprecise.
Limitations
Small sample size (50 patients), compares two specific flap reconstruction techniques rather than reporting general wound healing after standard pilonidal treatment, and satisfaction was the stated primary outcome rather than healing time.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n A total of 50 patients with simple PSD were randomized equally to undergo KSF or LF reconstruction after sinus excision.
- population Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is a chronic condition that mainly affects young adults
- intervention the keystone perforator island flap (KSF)
- comparator the Limberg flap (LF)
- primaryOutcome Patient satisfaction, the primary endpoint, was assessed at 6 months using a validated 5-point scale.
- result faster wound healing (13.5 ± 3.1 versus 17.1 ± 3.5 days, p < 0.001), and earlier return to activity (6.8 ± 0.8 versus 8.5 ± 0.8 days, p < 0.001)
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 42098544 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Singh et al. 2026
Intermammary pilonidal sinus in an adolescent female: a case report
Healed fine, no set timeline given.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question
1 people2026
The patient recovered without complications and had no recurrence at follow-up, but no specific healing time was given
Who was studied
14-year-old girl with pilonidal sinus located between the breasts, not the usual tailbone area
Main outcome
How the wound recovered after surgical removal of the sinus
Quality
This is a single patient case report, so it cannot show how long healing typically takes or how reliable the outcome is in general.
Limitations
Only one patient, unusual location (intermammary rather than sacrococcygeal), no numeric follow-up duration or healing timeline given.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n A 14-year-old Asian female presented with 1-year history of intermammary swelling
- population A 14-year-old Asian female presented with 1-year history of intermammary swelling that evolved into a discharging sinus after 11 months.
- primaryOutcome The patient had an uncomplicated recovery with no recurrence at follow-up.
- result The patient had an uncomplicated recovery with no recurrence at follow-up.
J Med Case Rep · PMID 42057099 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Donnelly et al. 2026
Minimally Invasive, Maximally Effective: Outpatient Strategies for Paediatric Pilonidal Disease
Healing was slow in both groups.RetrospectiveLow quality
69 people2026
Healing took a long time in both the conservative-care group and the surgery group, with no significant difference between them
Who was studied
children and teenagers (up to 18 years old) treated for pilonidal cyst/sinus disease
Main outcome
time until the wound healed, and whether it came back after healing
Quality
This was a retrospective single-centre study without a comparison to untreated patients, and it did not give exact healing-time numbers, only that it was 'prolonged' in both groups.
Limitations
Retrospective single-centre design; patients who had surgery likely had more severe disease to begin with, which could confound comparisons; exact time-to-healing figures are not given, only that healing was prolonged in both groups.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients aged ≤ 18 years treated for PNS between February 2023 and August 2024
- n 69 patients were included
- primaryOutcome Primary outcome was recurrence after documented healing.
- result Time to healing was prolonged in both groups and did not differ significantly.
Int Wound J · PMID 42020338 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Li et al. 2026
A systematic review and meta-analysis of sinus laser associated closure (SiLaC) versus endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSiT) in the management of pilonidal sinus disease
Heals in about 4 weeksMeta-analysisLow quality
size not given2026
average healing time was about 30 days after SiLaC and about 27 days after EPSiT
Who was studied
people treated for pilonidal sinus disease with minimally invasive laser (SiLaC) or endoscopic (EPSiT) techniques
Main outcome
total time for the wound to fully heal after treatment
Quality
the healing-time estimates come from pooling mostly single-arm studies with very high variation between studies, and the comparison between the two techniques is indirect rather than from trials that tested them head-to-head.
Limitations
Findings are limited by lack of direct comparative trials and very high statistical heterogeneity (I2 up to 99%) across the pooled single-arm studies.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Various surgical modalities exist for the management of pilonidal sinus disease (PSD)
- primaryOutcome total wound healing time
- result The mean total healing time was 30.08 days (95% CI: 22.73–37.43%; I2 = 99.2%; P < 0.001) for SiLaC and 26.55 days (95% CI: 24.40–28.70; I² = 90.9%; P < 0.001) for EPSiT.
Langenbecks Arch Surg · PMID 41964736 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Matteucci et al. 2026
The New Minimally Invasive Techniques for Pilonidal Sinus Disease Surgery: Choosing the Right Technique for the Right Patient-A Narrative Review
No specific healing time given, only relative speedNarrative reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given2026
the review states that minimally invasive techniques lead to faster recovery than flap surgery, but does not give specific healing-time durations
Who was studied
people with pilonidal sinus disease who have undergone surgical treatment
Main outcome
time to healing after surgical treatment
Quality
it is a narrative (not systematic) review that pools general impressions from varied studies without reporting actual numeric healing times.
Limitations
no quantitative healing-time data are given; findings are a general synthesis of heterogeneous studies rather than a focused measurement of healing duration
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is a common condition affecting predominantly young adults
- primaryOutcome healing time, recurrence, postoperative complications and patient-reported outcomes
- result Minimally invasive approaches, including endoscopic and laser-assisted techniques, offer faster recovery and high short-term patient satisfaction in selected primary cases
Medicina (Kaunas) · PMID 41901600 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Martins et al. 2026
Negative pressure wound therapy in primary closure surgeries for pilonidal disease: a meta-analysis
No difference in wound closure timeMeta-analysisLow qualityRelated question
479 people2026
no significant difference was found in how long wounds took to close between groups
Who was studied
people having surgery to close the wound after pilonidal cyst/sinus removal
Main outcome
time for the surgical wound to close
Quality
it pools only six studies with wide confidence intervals and the authors say more randomized trials are needed
Limitations
the abstract reports a comparison between NPWT and non-NPWT primary closure rather than describing the natural healing timeline, and the wound closure time estimate has a very wide confidence interval crossing zero
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus
- n Six studies with a total of 479 patients were included
- primaryOutcome there was no difference between groups in the time of wound closure
- result there was no difference between groups in the time of wound closure (MD - 18.94; 95% CI - 41.68 to 3.80)
Updates Surg · PMID 41880146 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Alsalaumy 2026
Comparative study of the Karydakis flap versus conventional surgical techniques for pilonidal sinus disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Faster return to work with flap surgeryMeta-analysisModerate qualityRelated question
3,108 people2026
Karydakis flap had lower recurrence and infection rates, and patients returned to work sooner (about 6.5 days sooner than midline closure, 18.9 days sooner than excision with secondary healing); hospital stay was similar to midline closure.
Who was studied
People with pilonidal sinus disease who had surgery
What they received
Karydakis flap surgery
Compared with
Midline closure or excision with healing by secondary intention
Main outcome
Recurrence and infection after surgery, plus return to work and hospital stay
Quality
It pools many studies with a large total number of patients, but it mixes randomized and non-randomized studies and the abstract notes no data on wound-healing time itself.
Limitations
The abstract does not report actual wound-healing duration, only return-to-work time, hospital stay, and complication rates; study quality and risk of bias of included studies are not detailed.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population The ideal surgical treatment for pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is controversial.
- intervention The Karydakis flap (KF) was compared with midline closure (MC) and excision with healing by secondary intention (EHSI).
- comparator The Karydakis flap (KF) was compared with midline closure (MC) and excision with healing by secondary intention (EHSI).
- primaryOutcome The primary outcomes included recurrence and infection, whereas secondary outcomes were seroma, operative time, hospital stay, overall complications, and return to work.
- result KF was associated with a significant reduction in recurrence compared to MC (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16-0.59; p < 0.001; I2 = 34%) and EHSI (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12-0.71; p = 0.006; I2 = 11%).
- result KF had fewer infections than EHSI (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.007-0.486; p = 0.008) and returned to work earlier compared with MC (MD - 6.5 days) and EHSI (MD - 18.9 days).
- result Hospital stay did not differ between KF and MC (MD - 0.08 days).
- n Fifteen studies (n = 3,108) were identified for inclusion (KF = 1,257, MC = 1,593, EHSI = 258).
Updates Surg · PMID 41854814 · Read it on PubMed ↗
van Kempen et al. 2026
Long-Term Outcomes of Sinus Laser-Assisted Closure in Primary Versus Recurrent Sacrococcygeal Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Heals in about 6-8 weeksRetrospectiveModerate quality
267 peoplemedian of 4.0 years (IQR: 3.6-5.0 years)
Average healing time was 46 days for first-time pilonidal disease and 56 days for recurrent disease; initial healing occurred in about 75% and 68% of patients respectively, and after repeat laser treatment when needed, over 90% eventually healed
Who was studied
People treated with a laser procedure (SiLaC) for primary or recurrent pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
Time to complete wound healing after treatment
Quality
Single-center retrospective cohort with good long-term follow-up (90% completion) but no comparison group or randomization, so healing-time figures could be influenced by unmeasured factors.
Limitations
Retrospective design, single center, and healing time was a secondary outcome rather than the main focus of the study.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population This retrospective cohort study analyzed 267 consecutive patients undergoing SiLaC at a single center (July 2019-August 2022), stratified by disease status: primary (n = 214) versus recurrent (n = 53).
- n analyzed 267 consecutive patients undergoing SiLaC
- primaryOutcome secondary outcomes included healing rates, healing time, and complications
- result Despite comparable initial healing rates (75.4% primary, 68.0% recurrent), recurrent disease required 10 additional days for complete healing (56 vs. 46 days, p < 0.001).
- result Sequential SiLaC procedures, when necessary, achieved final healing rates exceeding 90% in both groups with minimal complications (5.8%).
- followUp Follow-up through telephone interviews and review of medical records achieved a 90.3% completion rate at a median of 4.0 years (IQR: 3.6-5.0 years).
World J Surg · PMID 41834241 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Darbandi et al. 2026
Advancing pilonidal disease care through pediatric endoscopic treatment (PEPSiT): early insights
Healed in about 3 months on averageRetrospectiveLow quality
32 peopleMedian follow-up was 9 months (1-52)
median time to healing was 3 months, ranging from 1 to 24 months
Who was studied
adolescents and young adults with pilonidal sinus disease who had not had prior surgery for it
What they received
endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT)
Main outcome
time to wound healing after treatment
Quality
this is a small, single-center retrospective review of only 32 patients with no comparison group, so the healing time reported may not generalize.
Limitations
retrospective design, small sample size, single surgical technique, wide range in healing time (1-24 months), authors note larger prospective studies are needed
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Thirty-two patients (18 males) underwent PEPSiT
- population median age 15 years (11-18)
- population None had prior surgery for PSD.
- intervention Pediatric Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment (PEPSiT)
- primaryOutcome Data collected included demographics, presentation, comorbidities, BMI, surgical time, anesthesia, hospital stay, complications, healing, recurrence, and follow-up (median, range).
- result Median healing was 3 months (1-24).
- followUp Median follow-up was 9 months (1-52).
Pediatr Surg Int · PMID 41758282 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Öztaş et al. 2026
Artificial Intelligence-Based Prediction of Recurrence and Personalized Treatment Planning in Pediatric Pilonidal Sinus Disease
Healing time not reportedRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
242 people2026
The abstract does not report actual healing duration; it only states that longer healing time was associated with higher recurrence risk, without giving specific healing time figures
Who was studied
Children treated for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
Recurrence risk and healing time as factors
Quality
This is a retrospective study focused on building AI prediction models for recurrence, not on directly measuring or reporting healing duration, so it offers no concrete time-to-heal data.
Limitations
Retrospective design; study focus is on recurrence prediction modeling, not on characterizing healing duration itself; no actual healing time values (days/weeks) are given.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Clinical data from 242 pediatric PSD patients were retrospectively analyzed.
- n Among 242 patients, 59.1% underwent surgical excision
- primaryOutcome Longer healing duration, larger lesion size, higher body mass index (BMI), and an increased number of sinus tracts were associated with higher recurrence risk.
- result SHAP analysis revealed that healing time, BMI, age, and the number of sinus tracts were the most influential predictors in both recurrence and treatment selection models.
Surg Innov · PMID 41432023 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Chen et al. 2025
[Treatment options for different types of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease]
No healing time reportedNarrative reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given2025
The abstract summarizes which treatment (drainage, minimally invasive procedures, excision with or without flap) suits which stage of disease, but does not state how long healing takes for any approach
Who was studied
People with sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (cyst/sinus near the tailbone) undergoing treatment
Main outcome
Best treatment approach and recurrence/complication rates for different types of pilonidal disease
Quality
This is a narrative review summarizing treatment strategies from clinical experience and literature, without original data on healing time, specific patient numbers, or follow-up duration.
Limitations
No quantitative data, no reported healing times, no patient numbers, and no follow-up duration are given; it focuses on choosing surgical strategy rather than tracking recovery time.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population The treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (SPD) remains challenging due to its high recurrence rate and treatment-related complications.
- primaryOutcome An ideal treatment plan for SPD should be simple to perform, reduce recurrence rates, enable patients to quickly return to normal daily activities, and be associated with a low incidence of complications.
- result For recurrent SPD or cases with extensive lesions, excision followed by secondary healing or combined with flap techniques is required to pursue a lower recurrence risk.
Zhonghua Wei Chang Wai Ke Za Zhi · PMID 41397831 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Li et al. 2025
[Clinical efficacy of laser ablation and closure in the treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease and analysis of risk factors for postoperative recurrence in male patients]
Healed in about 5 weeksRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
369 people2025
all wounds eventually healed, with a median healing time of 35 days
Who was studied
patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease who underwent surgery (mostly male)
What they received
laser ablation and closure surgery for pilonidal disease
Main outcome
time for the surgical wound to heal
Quality
this is a single-center retrospective study of one specific surgical technique (laser ablation), not a general observation of pilonidal cyst healing across treatment types.
Limitations
retrospective design, single center, and only examines laser ablation and closure rather than the full range of treatments (drainage, excision, open wound management) covered by the question.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n 369 patients with SPD who underwent laser ablation and closure
- population The cohort included 313 males and 56 females, with 43 patients aged ≤18 years.
- intervention laser ablation and closure for the treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (SPD)
- primaryOutcome median wound healing time of 35 (IQR: 30, 42) days
- result The wound healing rate was 100%, with a median wound healing time of 35 (IQR: 30, 42) days.
Zhonghua Wei Chang Wai Ke Za Zhi · PMID 41397828 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Grgić et al. 2025
LASER SURGERY FOR PILONIDAL DISEASE - A NOVEL MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE
Healing time not reported.Narrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2025
The abstract reviews pilonidal disease and its treatment options but does not report how long healing takes after any treatment; it only states the authors will present their experience with laser treatment, without giving outcome data.
Who was studied
people with pilonidal disease (cyst/sinus) in the gluteal region, mostly young men
Quality
This is a background/review piece introducing treatment options and mentioning the authors' laser experience, but it reports no data on healing time, number of patients, or outcomes.
Limitations
No outcome data, healing times, follow-up duration, or patient numbers are given; the abstract is largely a general review of pilonidal disease treatments.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Pilonidal disease (PD) is a common inflammatory disease of the gluteal region with an incidence of 26/100000 and usually occurs in young males (15-30 years old).
- intervention We present our experience with laser treatment (Biolitec, Germany) of pilonidal sinus disease.
- result We present our experience with laser treatment (Biolitec, Germany) of pilonidal sinus disease.
Acta Clin Croat · PMID 41340801 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Canturk et al. 2025
Combined laser ablation and pit excision for pilonidal sinus: effectiveness, quality of recovery, and patient-reported outcomes
Most healed on time, some delayedRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
39 people13.6 ± 3.6 months
About 1 in 5 patients (20.5%, 8/39) had delayed healing, and older age was linked to longer recovery time; overall follow-up averaged about 13.6 months with 84.6% treatment success and 15.4% recurrence
Who was studied
adults who had pilonidal sinus disease treated with a combined laser and pit excision procedure
What they received
combined diode laser ablation with pit excision surgery for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
recurrence, treatment success, and delayed healing (wound not closed within 30 days or still draining after 14 days)
Quality
This is a small, single-center retrospective study of a specific combined technique, so it gives only limited and uncertain information about how long healing typically takes.
Limitations
Retrospective design, modest sample size (39 patients in main analysis), single center, and the study evaluates a specific minimally invasive combined technique rather than standard treatments like simple incision/drainage or open wound care.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Fifty-four adults were treated consecutively, and the primary analysis included 39 patients who 6month patientreported outcomes
- intervention diode laser ablation combined with pit excision for pilonidal sinus disease
- primaryOutcome The primary endpoints were recurrence and treatment success (no recurrence without re-intervention). Delayed healing was a composite of epithelialization > 30 days or discharge > 14 days.
- result Mean followup was 13.6 ± 3.6 months; treatment success 84.6% (33/39), recurrence 15.4% (6/39), and delayed healing 20.5% (8/39).
- result Age was associated with a longer recovery time (p = 0.002).
- n the primary analysis included 39 patients
BMC Surg · PMID 41316137 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Bilgin et al. 2025
Comparison of short- and long-term outcomes of diode laser vs. crystallized phenol treatment for pilonidal sinus disease: A propensity score-matched multicentre study
Laser healed faster; phenol let people return sooner.RetrospectiveModerate qualityRelated question
644 peopleMedian follow-up was 45 months (laser) and 40 months (phenol)
Laser treatment led to faster complete healing but delayed return to daily activities, while phenol allowed quicker return to daily life but slower complete healing; recovery and recurrence rates were similar (85%-86%) between groups
Who was studied
adults with pilonidal sinus disease treated with either laser or phenol
What they received
diode laser ablation of the sinus
Compared with
crystallized phenol application
Main outcome
how fast the wound healed and patients returned to normal activity
Quality
It is a retrospective multicentre study with propensity-score matching, which reduces but does not eliminate bias from a non-randomised design.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no randomisation, and the treatments compared (laser and phenol) are minimally invasive options rather than the drainage, excision, or open wound management specified in the question.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n 644 were included
- population In this multicentre retrospective cohort study (Nov. 2017-Sep. 2024), patients treated with laser or phenol were included.
- intervention This study compared short- and long-term outcomes of laser versus phenol treatment in PSD.
- comparator This study compared short- and long-term outcomes of laser versus phenol treatment in PSD.
- primaryOutcome Return to daily activities was delayed in the laser group, whereas complete healing was slower in the phenol group.
- result Return to daily activities was delayed in the laser group, whereas complete healing was slower in the phenol group. Readmission, recurrence and recovery rates were comparable (85%-86%).
- followUp Median follow-up was 45 months (laser) and 40 months (phenol).
Colorectal Dis · PMID 41146596 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Jazi et al. 2025
Future of pilonidal cyst surgery: a comparative review of traditional and laser techniques
Traditional surgery heals slower than laser.Narrative reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given2025
Traditional surgical techniques were linked to extended healing periods, while laser techniques showed healing rates up to 97% with shorter hospital stays
Who was studied
people who have been treated for pilonidal cysts with either traditional surgery or laser methods
Main outcome
how quickly the wound heals after treatment
Quality
This is a general comparative literature review without stated search criteria, pooled statistics, or exact healing-time data, so it gives only a rough picture.
Limitations
No systematic methodology, inclusion criteria, or quantitative healing-time data are given; review notes more research is needed for long-term outcomes.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population studies comparing traditional surgical techniques including traditional excision with open and closed healing, flap reconstructions, with minimally invasive procedures focusing on laser-assisted
- primaryOutcome focusing on each method's effectiveness, recovery time, recurrence rates, complications, cosmetics, and costs
- result Although traditional surgical techniques were practical, but they were associated with a relatively high risk of wound complications, recurrence, extended healing periods, and poor cosmetics.
- result Laser techniques showed promising results in reducing hospital stays (for at most 3 h vs. days), postoperative pain, and recurrence rates, with healing rates up to 97%.
BMC Surg · PMID 41094667 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Nyandoro et al. 2026
Sacrococcygeal Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Decade-In-Review of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures
Recovery time ranged 14 to 60 days by technique.RetrospectiveLow quality
136 peopledecade follow-up
Healing/recovery time varied by surgical technique: median return-to-work was 14 days for modified Limberg flap and 21 days for other flap techniques, compared to 60 days for secondary intention healing (open wound) techniques; secondary intention healing also had the highest recurrence (52.2%) and surgical site infection (30.4%) rates.
Who was studied
people who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease in Western Australia, surveyed about a decade later
Main outcome
time to return to normal function/work and other patient-reported outcomes after pilonidal surgery
Quality
It is a retrospective survey using mail questionnaires and phone interviews years after surgery, with a modest sample split across six technique groups, so recall bias and small subgroup sizes limit confidence.
Limitations
Retrospective design, reliance on patient recall via mail/phone survey conducted years after treatment, and small numbers within each of the six surgical technique subgroups.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n A total of 136 patients met the inclusion criteria.
- population a multi-centre retrospective decade follow-up review of definitive SPD surgery participants from Western Australia
- primaryOutcome PROMs assessed included body image, cosmesis, confidence, functional recovery and overall satisfaction-secondary outcomes examined recurrence, SSI and other complications.
- result MLF and OFT achieved the fastest functional recovery, with median return-to-work times of 14 and 21 days, respectively, compared to 60 days for SIT (p = 0.007).
- result SIT was associated with the highest recurrence rate (52.2%) and SSI rates (30.4%), while MLF and MKF combined had low recurrence rates with favourable PROMs.
- followUp a multi-centre retrospective decade follow-up review
ANZ J Surg · PMID 41074563 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gallo et al. 2025
Intra-operative ultrasound in the surgical treatment of complex and recurrent pilonidal disease: a retrospective, observational, single-center study
Most healed by 3 years, some needed more surgeryRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
19 people36 months
at 36 months, 5 of 19 patients (26.3%) had disease persistence (recurrence or incomplete healing); all of those were later healed with further treatment, giving 100% eventual healing after reintervention
Who was studied
adults with complex or recurrent pilonidal cyst/sinus disease who had surgery combining intraoperative ultrasound with EPSiT
Main outcome
how many wounds healed completely versus recurred or stayed unhealed by 36 months
Quality
this was a small, single-center, retrospective study of only 19 patients with no comparison group, so it gives a rough idea at best of how healing unfolds over time.
Limitations
small sample size (19 patients), single center, retrospective design, focused specifically on a surgical technique (ultrasound-guided EPSiT) in complex/recurrent cases rather than general pilonidal healing time
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Nineteen patients were included
- population patients with recurrent and complex PD treated between 2018 and 2021 using IUS in conjunction with EPSiT
- primaryOutcome clinical outcomes including recurrence rate, time to wound healing, and incidence of incomplete wound healing
- result At 36-month follow-up, disease persistence (recurrence or incomplete healing) was observed in 5 patients (26.3%). Recurrent cases were successfully managed with additional procedures, achieving 100% healing after reintervention.
- followUp a minimum follow-up of 36 months
Int J Colorectal Dis · PMID 40974390 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Ertekin et al. 2026
Comparing Square Excision and Transposition Flap Versus Modified Limberg Flap in Sacrococcygeal Pilonidal Sinus Disease Surgery: A New Technique With Fewer Wound Issues
Healed in about 11 days with newer flap techniqueRetrospectiveLow quality
102 people6-month follow-up
patients who had the SF technique healed in about 11 days, faster than those who had the modified Limberg flap
Who was studied
adults who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
square excision and transposition flap (SF) surgical technique
Compared with
modified Limberg flap (LF) surgical technique
Main outcome
time for the wound to heal after surgery
Quality
this is a retrospective comparison of two surgical techniques without randomization, so differences could be due to other factors between groups.
Limitations
retrospective design, no randomization mentioned, single comparison of two surgical flap methods rather than a general study of healing after any pilonidal treatment
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Patients who underwent surgical intervention for PSD utilizing SF and LF techniques between January 2016 and January 2022 were evaluated.
- intervention square excision and transposition flap (SF) technique
- comparator modified Limberg flap (LF)
- primaryOutcome healing time
- result Patients in the SF group experienced shorter healing times of 11 days and quicker returns to work at 13 days compared with patients in the LF group ( P <.001).
- n SF (53 patients) and LF (49 patients) groups
Adv Skin Wound Care · PMID 40956974 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Bahadir et al. 2025
Comparison of Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment Combined With Platelet-Rich Plasma and Excision With Primary Closure in Pediatric Patients: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study on Short-Term Outcomes
No exact healing time reportedRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
104 people1 year
Hospital stay was shorter and return to social life was faster in the PRP-assisted endoscopic group, but the abstract does not give an exact number of days or weeks for the cyst/wound to fully heal; recurrence at 1 year was 13.7% vs 9.7% (not significant)
Who was studied
children and teenagers who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
hospital stay length, recurrence, and return to daily life after surgery
Quality
this is a retrospective comparison of two historical patient groups treated years apart at one hospital, not a randomized study, so it cannot reliably establish healing time.
Limitations
retrospective design, two different time periods compared, small sample size, short-term follow-up only, no randomization
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n A total of 104 patients under 18 years of age were included.
- population This retrospective comparative cohort study analyzed two historical cohorts of pediatric patients with pilonidal sinus disease treated during different time periods at the same institution.
- primaryOutcome Patients were evaluated based on demographic features, length of hospital stay, recurrence and complication rates, analgesic use, return to daily life, cosmetic outcomes, and satisfaction.
- result Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the EPSIT + PRP group (same-day discharge vs. mean 2.79 days; p < 0.05). In the postoperative 1st year follow-up, recurrence rates were 13.7 % (EPC) and 9.7 % (EPSIT + PRP), not statistically significant (p = 0.750).
J Pediatr Surg · PMID 40921262 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Wijekoon et al. 2025
A scoping review on clinicopathological characteristics, diagnosis, and management of intermammary pilonidal sinus disease
No healing-time data reported.Systematic reviewVery low qualityRelated question
33 people2025
The review found a mean symptom duration of 8 months before diagnosis, but it did not report how long wounds took to heal after surgery or drainage
Who was studied
young people with pilonidal sinus disease located between the breasts (intermammary), not the usual tailbone area
Main outcome
how the disease presented, was diagnosed, and treated (not specifically healing time after treatment)
Quality
This is a scoping review pooling only 10 small case reports/series on a rare condition, with no healing-time outcome tracked and high risk of selection bias.
Limitations
Very small number of studies and patients, heterogeneous case reports, no standardized follow-up or healing-time measurement, and the condition studied (intermammary location) differs from the typical sacrococcygeal pilonidal cyst.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Intermammary pilonidal sinus disease (IMPSD) is a rare condition that primarily affects the young population.
- n Ten articles met the inclusion criteria, including 33 patients with a mean age of 18.7 years.
- primaryOutcome Data extraction included demographic characteristics, clinical pathological characteristics, diagnostic methods, treatment approaches, and follow-up outcomes.
- result Clinical presentation commonly involved discharging sinuses and painful swellings, with a mean duration of 8 months.
- intervention The main modes of treatment included resection with primary closure or resection with secondary healing.
Womens Health (Lond) · PMID 40613434 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Yalçın et al. 2025
Our Experience With Four or More Crystallised Phenol Applications in Pilonidal Sinus Disease
No clear healing-time reportedRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
53 people3-year follow-up
Treatment success in 92.45% of patients after 4-9 phenol sessions (mean 4.84), with 1.9% recurrence and 5.7% needing surgery over 3-year follow-up; the abstract does not state how many days or weeks it took for the sinus to heal.
Who was studied
adults aged 18 and older with pilonidal sinus disease treated with phenol applications
What they received
crystallised phenol applications (4-9 sessions) for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
treatment success, recurrence and complications after phenol treatment
Quality
This is a small retrospective case series without a comparison group, so it can give only a rough sense of treatment outcomes, not a reliable healing timeline.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no control group, no explicit report of time-to-healing (only number of treatment sessions and follow-up duration), small sample size.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population We retrospectively evaluated 53 patients (43 male, 10 female) aged ≥ 18 years who received 4-9 crystallised phenol applications for pilonidal sinus disease.
- intervention crystallised phenol applications
- n We retrospectively evaluated 53 patients (43 male, 10 female) aged ≥ 18 years
- primaryOutcome Treatment success was achieved in 92.45% of patients, with a 3-year follow-up.
- result Treatment success was achieved in 92.45% of patients, with a 3-year follow-up. Recurrence occurred in one patient (1.9%), while three patients (5.7%) required surgery due to treatment failure.
Int Wound J · PMID 40524141 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Emral et al. 2025
Evaluation of laser ablation for recurrent pilonidal sinus disease: treatment success, recurrence rates, and patient outcomes
Healed in about 5 weeks.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
37 people9.6 months
Median wound healing time was 35 days; 70.3% healed completely without recurrence, 21.6% had recurrence over a mean 9.6 month follow-up
Who was studied
People with recurrent pilonidal sinus disease treated with laser ablation
Main outcome
Time to complete wound healing
Quality
This is a small, retrospective study of one specific treatment (laser ablation) without a comparison group, so it only loosely reflects general healing time after pilonidal treatment.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no control group, small sample size (37 patients), and findings specific to laser ablation rather than standard treatments like excision or incision and drainage.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 37 patients with recurrent pilonidal sinus disease treated with laser ablation between January 2022 and January 2025
- primaryOutcome healing time, Visual Analog Scale values, and return to normal activities were collected
- result The median time for wound healing was 35 days
- result 70.3% of patients achieved complete healing without recurrence, while 21.6% experienced recurrence within a mean follow-up of 9.6 months
- n A retrospective analysis of 37 patients with recurrent pilonidal sinus disease
Lasers Med Sci · PMID 40522552 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Bergus et al. 2025
Evaluating Outcomes in Adolescents With Pilonidal Disease Treated With Pilonidal Sinus Trephination
Most healed by 60 days; 1 in 4 recurredRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
63 people12 mo
Wound healing was delayed in about 1 in 5 patients (20.5%), and 1 in 4 patients (25.0%) had the disease come back within a year; non-White race was linked to higher rates of both delayed healing and recurrence
Who was studied
adolescents and young adults (10-21 years old) with chronic pilonidal disease treated with trephination surgery
Main outcome
wound healing by 60 days and disease recurrence by 12 months after trephination surgery
Quality
This is a single-center retrospective chart review without a comparison group, so it cannot reliably establish typical healing timelines beyond this specific surgical approach and population.
Limitations
Retrospective design, single tertiary pediatric hospital, no control group, and focuses specifically on trephination surgery outcomes rather than general healing course after any treatment type.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population We retrospectively reviewed patients aged 10-21 y who underwent trephination at our tertiary care pediatric hospital between November 2019 and November 2022.
- n Among 63 patients, the median age at the time of index operation was 16.5 y.
- primaryOutcome This study investigated wound healing and 1-y disease recurrence in adolescents after trephination.
- result Wound healing was delayed in 20.5% and was associated with non-White race
- result Recurrence at 1 y was 25.0% and was also associated with non-White race
- followUp Patient demographics, treatment history, operative management, and clinical outcomes up to 12 mo postoperatively were collected.
J Surg Res · PMID 40378664 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Demir et al. 2025
Efficacy of crystallized and liquid form phenol application in pilonidal sinus disease: a single-center retrospective study
Most improved within a year.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
80 people1st year
After 1 year, 90% of patients treated with crystallized phenol and 95% treated with liquid phenol had improved, with no significant difference in recovery or recurrence between the two forms, though early complications were more common with liquid phenol.
Who was studied
young adults with pilonidal sinus treated with phenol instead of surgery
What they received
crystallized phenol application
Compared with
liquid phenol application
Main outcome
recovery rate, complications, and recurrence after treatment
Quality
This is a small, single-center retrospective study of only 80 patients comparing two phenol forms, which limits how confidently its healing timeline can be generalized.
Limitations
Retrospective design, small sample size, single center, and the treatment studied (phenol application) is a non-surgical alternative rather than standard excision, drainage, or open wound management.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Eighty patients were included in the study: 40 treated with crystallized phenol and 40 with liquid phenol.
- population Pilonidal sinus is a frequently observed disease in young adult male patients.
- intervention 40 treated with crystallized phenol
- comparator 40 with liquid phenol
- primaryOutcome the recovery rates, complication rates, persistence of complaints, and recurrence at the end of the 1st year were compared between the groups
- result At the end of the 1st year, 90% improvement was detected in group 1 and 95% in group 2. However, there was no significant difference between the recovery and recurrence rates between the groups.
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 40329097 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Morais et al. 2025
What is the Impact of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Healing in Patients Post Excision of Pilonidal Sinus? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Unclear how long healing takesMeta-analysisVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2025
unclear whether NPWT changes healing time compared with other dressings; evidence rated very low certainty
Who was studied
people who had surgery to remove a pilonidal sinus/cyst
What they received
negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) used on the wound after excision
Compared with
other types of wound dressings after excision
Main outcome
time for the wound to heal (plus recurrence, pain, satisfaction)
Quality
the review itself says the certainty of the evidence across the 10 included studies was very low, so the findings cannot be trusted as a reliable estimate of healing time.
Limitations
small, mixed-design studies (RCTs, retrospective, cohort, pre-post) with very low certainty of evidence; does not report natural healing time without regard to dressing type
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients with pilonidal sinus following surgical excision
- intervention negative pressure wound therapy
- comparator any other dressings
- primaryOutcome time to healing, recurrence, pain or patient's experience
- result The evidence for the intervention is uncertain thus, it is unclear whether NPWT makes any difference when compared to any other dressings, on time to healing, recurrence, pain or patient's experience.
Int Wound J · PMID 40288765 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Agnesi et al. 2025
Endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment versus excision with wound closure: a systematic review of the literature
Healing took about 40 to 48 days.Systematic reviewLow quality
595 people2025
Mean time to complete healing was longer in Group A than Group B (47.9±26.1 days and 39.1±22.3 days, respectively).
Who was studied
Six articles published between 2018 and 2023, including 595 patients were included in the present systematic review.
What they received
All of these studies presented endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSIT) as the minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of pilonidal disease
Compared with
413 (69.4%) underwent excision and wound closure (Group B)
Main outcome
Mean time to complete healing was longer in Group A than Group B (47.9±26.1 days and 39.1±22.3 days, respectively).
Quality
This is a review of only six studies with pooled averages rather than a formal meta-analysis, so the healing-time estimates may be affected by differences between the original studies.
Limitations
Only six studies included, and the abstract does not describe formal statistical pooling or detailed assessment of study quality.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Six articles published between 2018 and 2023, including 595 patients were included in the present systematic review.
- population Six articles published between 2018 and 2023, including 595 patients were included in the present systematic review.
- intervention All of these studies presented endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSIT) as the minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of pilonidal disease
- comparator 413 (69.4%) underwent excision and wound closure (Group B).
- primaryOutcome Mean time to complete healing was longer in Group A than Group B (47.9±26.1 days and 39.1±22.3 days, respectively).
- result Mean time to complete healing was longer in Group A than Group B (47.9±26.1 days and 39.1±22.3 days, respectively).
Minerva Surg · PMID 40178497 · Read it on PubMed ↗
El Deen et al. 2025
A Comparitive Study Between Early Outcomes of Laser and Lay-Open Technique in Management of Simple Pilonidal Sinus
Healing took about 10 days with laser, 34 days with open wound.Randomised trialLow qualityRelated question
40 people2025
Counted as a related question: This study compares two different treatments (laser therapy versus lay-open technique) to determine which heals faster, rather than describing how long a pilonidal cyst takes to heal after treatment in general.
Wound healing was much faster with laser treatment (about 10 days) than with the open wound technique (about 34 days)
Who was studied
Adults with simple pilonidal sinus undergoing surgical treatment
What they received
Laser therapy (SiLaT) for pilonidal sinus
Compared with
Lay-open (sinotomy) technique for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
Time for the wound to heal after treatment
Quality
This was a small trial of only 40 patients from one study, looking only at early outcomes, so it may not reflect longer-term healing or apply broadly.
Limitations
Small sample size (40 patients), only early postoperative outcomes assessed, no mention of blinding, long-term follow-up not reported.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n including 40 patients, divided into two equal groups
- intervention PS treated with diode laser therapy (SiLaT)
- comparator the lay-open group: PS treated with lay-open (sinotomy)
- primaryOutcome healing time, complications, and recurrence rates were analyzed
- result Wound healing was significantly faster in the SiLaT group (10.1 ± 2.7 days vs. 34.1 ± 15.1 days, p < 0.0001).
- population Pilonidal sinus (PS) predominantly impacts adolescent and young adult males.
Lasers Surg Med · PMID 40108765 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Demir et al. 2025
Is it beneficial to add laser ablation to curettage in the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease?
No healing-time data given.Randomised trialLow qualityRelated question
80 people6 months
No significant difference between the laser+curettage group and curettage-only group in wound healing problems at 30 days or recurrence at 6 months; the abstract does not state an average time to full healing.
Who was studied
adults who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
laser ablation combined with sinus curettage
Compared with
sinus curettage alone
Main outcome
wound healing problems and recurrence after surgery
Quality
Small randomized trial (40 per group) that compares two surgical techniques and only reports whether healing problems occurred by fixed checkpoints, not how long healing actually took.
Limitations
The abstract reports binary wound-healing/recurrence outcomes at 30 days and 6 months rather than actual healing duration, and compares two treatment approaches rather than describing the natural course of healing.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population This study included patients diagnosed with PSD between February 2019, and September 2022.
- intervention laser + curettage (L/C; n = 40) group
- comparator curettage-only (C; n = 40) group
- primaryOutcome wound healing problems within 30 days postoperatively, and recurrence within 6 months postoperatively
- result The groups had similar results for postoperative pain, discharge, bleeding, wound healing problems at 30 days, and recurrence at 6 months.
- n laser + curettage (L/C; n = 40) group or the curettage-only (C; n = 40) group
Lasers Med Sci · PMID 40100423 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Hüseyin et al. 2025
Vacuum-assisted closure in secondary wound healing after pilonidal sinus surgery
Standard care heals in about 10 weeks.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
60 people2025
Counted as a related question: Tests whether vacuum-assisted closure speeds up healing compared to standard wound care after pilonidal surgery, rather than measuring natural healing time after the standard treatment alone.
Wound healing took much longer with standard open wound care (about 67.6 days) than with vacuum-assisted closure (about 21.5 days)
Who was studied
patients who had surgery (lay-open excision) for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
vacuum-assisted closure wound care after surgery
Compared with
standard open wound care after surgery
Main outcome
time to complete wound healing
Quality
It is a small, single-center retrospective study of only 30 patients per group, so the healing times it reports may not apply widely.
Limitations
Retrospective analysis, single center, small sample size, and the abstract calls for larger prospective studies to confirm the findings.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n The experimental cohort included 60 patients.
- population Patients with PSD who underwent standard pilonidal sinus excision-lay open technique/surgery
- intervention the vacuum-assisted closure group (n=30, postoperative vacuum-assisted closure application)
- comparator the control group (n=30, standard open wound care)
- primaryOutcome wound healing times were compared between study groups
- result The total recovery time (time to complete wound healing) was significantly shorter in the vacuum-assisted closure group compared with the control group (21.47±4.38 days versus 67.60±7.83 days, p=0.001).
J Wound Care · PMID 40056380 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gojayev et al. 2025
Comparative Outcomes of Surgical Techniques for Pilonidal Sinus: A Turkish Retrospective Study
Healing time varies by surgery type.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
476 people2025
Recovery times varied by surgical technique: laser pilonidotomy patients had shortest hospital stay (8 hours), fastest pain-free sitting/walking and return to work; primary midline closure had higher complication and recurrence rates and slower return to normal activity
Who was studied
adults who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
time to resume normal activities and complications after surgery (pain-free sitting, walking, return to work, recurrence)
Quality
This is a retrospective chart review comparing different surgical techniques, not a controlled study of natural healing time, so it only loosely estimates how long healing takes.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no randomization, groups not matched, and specific day/week healing times not clearly reported beyond return-to-activity measures.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population adult patients with pilonidal sinus disease
- n The data of 476 patients who underwent surgery for pilonidal sinus disease in our clinic between January 2011 and September 2022 were retrospectively evaluated.
- result Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LP group (mean, 8 h; P<0.001). Pain-free toilet sitting time, pain-free walking time, and return to work time were statistically significantly shorter in the LP group (all P<0.001).
- result Seroma (P=0.006), wound dehiscence (P<0.001), and postoperative recurrence (P=0.017) rates were significantly higher in the PMC group.
- primaryOutcome Pain-free toilet sitting time, pain-free walking time, and return to work time were statistically significantly shorter in the LP group
Med Sci Monit · PMID 39995244 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Wiinblad et al. 2025
Outcome After Surgical Treatment for Chronic Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Systematic Review of Common Surgical Techniques
Open wound healing takes longer than flap surgeryMeta-analysisLow qualityRelated question
5,762 people2025
Open wounds left to heal on their own (secondary healing) took significantly longer to heal than any of the flap or closure operations, but no specific healing times in days or weeks were given
Who was studied
adults and teenagers who had surgery for long-standing (chronic) pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
how long the wound took to heal after different types of surgery
Quality
the included trials were mostly small, short follow-up, and rated high or medium risk of bias, giving only low to very low certainty for this outcome.
Limitations
Most studies had a high or medium risk of bias, resulting in very low to low certainty of evidence. The trials generally had small numbers, short follow-ups, and no reported primary outcomes or power calculations.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Fifty trials included a total of 5762 participants.
- population compared outcomes of operations to treat chronic pilonidal disease in adults and teenagers
- primaryOutcome secondary outcomes were infection, healing time, and length of stay
- result All trials found secondary healing to have significantly longer healing times than any other operation.
- qualityWhy Most studies had a high or medium risk of bias, resulting in very low to low certainty of evidence.
Dis Colon Rectum · PMID 39982788 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Qin et al. 2025
Efficacy and safety of laser ablation for recurrent pilonidal sinus: a systematic review and meta‑analysis
Mostly healed, but fewer over timeMeta-analysisLow qualityRelated question
137 people12 months or less; exceeding 12 months
pooled healing rate was 81.9%; it was higher (87.2%) in studies following patients 12 months or less, and lower (74.5%) in studies following patients longer than 12 months
Who was studied
people with recurrent pilonidal sinus after previous surgery
What they received
laser ablation of the sinus tract
Main outcome
rate of wound healing after treatment
Quality
this is a meta-analysis of only seven small studies on a specific treatment (laser ablation) for recurrent disease, with high heterogeneity and no comparison group, so it speaks narrowly to this technique rather than to pilonidal healing in general
Limitations
high statistical heterogeneity, no randomized trials, single-arm follow-up data, population limited to recurrent (not primary) pilonidal sinus, and treatment limited to laser ablation rather than standard surgical or drainage approaches
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 137 patients with recurrent pilonidal sinus were included
- intervention laser ablation treatment
- primaryOutcome The primary outcome measure was the healing rate after laser ablation
- result The pooled healing rate across these studies was 81.9% (95% CI, 65.4-94.6%; I2 = 69.12%; p < 0.01).
- result The pooled healing rate for studies with a follow-up period of 12 months or less was 87.2% (95% CI, 63.2-100%; I2 = 78.57%; p < 0.01), while for studies with a follow-up duration exceeding 12 months, the pooled healing rate was 74.5% (95% CI, 51.5-92.7%; I2 = 47.48%; p = 0.15).
- n In total, 137 patients with recurrent pilonidal sinus were included, of whom 112 achieved healing following laser ablation treatment.
Int J Colorectal Dis · PMID 39969579 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Darnis et al. 2025
Management of pilonidal sinus and recurrences in 2025
No specific healing time reported.Narrative reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given2025
The abstract discusses treatment options and recurrence rates but does not give a specific duration for wound healing; it notes that radical excision with secondary healing carries a failure/recurrence risk of at least 10%, and that primary closure can reduce healing and convalescence time but with more infection risk.
Who was studied
people who have had surgery or drainage for a pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
time to healing and recurrence after treatment
Quality
This is a narrative review summarizing treatment approaches and complication rates rather than measured healing times, so it gives no reliable duration for how long a cyst takes to heal.
Limitations
No specific healing-time data, numbers, or follow-up duration are reported; the review focuses on treatment strategy and recurrence rather than quantified healing time.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Pilonidal sinus is a common pathology of the intergluteal cleft that can develop into abscess or suppuration.
- primaryOutcome Radical excision followed by secondary healing is the most commonly performed option.
- result This strategy carries a risk of failure or recurrence for at least 10% of patients.
- result Primary closure after excision can reduce the time for healing and convalescence, but at the cost of more frequent infectious complications.
J Visc Surg · PMID 39875233 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Faurschou et al. 2025
Gender-specific outcomes in pilonidal sinus disease: Female outcomes after cleft lift surgery in a large prospective Danish cohort
Women healed more slowly.Prospective cohortModerate quality
560 people2025
women had a 46% higher risk of prolonged healing after surgery than men, and a non-significant 30% higher risk of recurrence
Who was studied
patients who had Bascom's cleft lift surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
risk of prolonged wound healing and recurrence after surgery
Quality
it is a large single-centre prospective cohort but not randomized and may have selection bias toward complex referred cases.
Limitations
single high-volume referral centre, no randomization, and confidence interval for recurrence crossed 1 indicating uncertainty
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n In all, 560 patients underwent BCL surgery at our centre during this period.
- population All patients undergoing BCL surgery from June 2016 until October 2022 were included in this study.
- primaryOutcome the risk of prolonged healing after BCL surgery was 46% higher in women compared to men
- result the risk of prolonged healing after BCL surgery was 46% higher in women compared to men (risk ratio 1.46, 95% CI 1.02-2.14)
- result Risk of recurrence in female patients was 30% higher than in male patients (risk ratio 1.30, 95% CI 0.79-2.09)
Colorectal Dis · PMID 39871414 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Hiremath et al. 2025
Concurrent pilonidal sinus of the nape of the neck and sacrococcygeal region
Fully healed by one year.Case seriesVery low quality
1 peopleOne year post-surgery
complete healing with no recurrence by one year after surgery
Who was studied
a man in his mid-30s with pilonidal sinus in both the back of the neck and the tailbone area
What they received
surgical excision of the neck sinus and wide local excision with flap reconstruction for the tailbone sinus
Main outcome
whether the wounds healed and whether the sinus came back
Quality
This is a single patient case report, so it cannot show how typical this healing time is for other people.
Limitations
Only one patient was described, and the case involved an unusual combination of two sinus sites, which may not reflect typical healing.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n we present a rare case of concurrent pilonidal abscess in both the nape of the neck and the natal cleft
- population The patient, in his mid-30s, presented with recurrent swelling and discharging sinuses in both the nape of the neck and the intergluteal region.
- intervention The surgical intervention included excision of the sinus tract in the neck and wide local excision with Limberg flap reconstruction in the sacrococcygeal region.
- primaryOutcome One year post-surgery, the patient showed complete healing with no recurrence observed during follow-up.
- result One year post-surgery, the patient showed complete healing with no recurrence observed during follow-up.
- followUp One year post-surgery
BMJ Case Rep · PMID 39842887 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Andrew et al. 2025
Laser hair depilation therapy for pilonidal sinus disease: a 5-year, retrospective experience in a university teaching hospital in the UK, 2017-2023
Healing time not reported; most improved after several sessionsRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
97 people2025
78% of patients who didn't have surgery (25 of 32) improved or healed; more laser sessions were linked to better symptom resolution, but the abstract does not state how long healing took
Who was studied
People with pilonidal sinus disease, mostly young men, referred for laser hair removal treatment
Main outcome
Whether the pilonidal sinus disease improved or healed after treatment
Quality
This is a retrospective single-centre review without a control group, so it cannot reliably show how long healing takes or separate the effect of laser sessions from other factors.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no control group, variable follow-up, and no reported time-to-healing outcome.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Patient demographics, PSD clinical stage, laser type, number of laser sessions, surgical intervention and treatment outcomes were extracted from electronic medical records of patients (n = 97) referred for laser hair depilation between 2017 and 2023.
- population Most patients affected were male (77%). The median age was 22 years (interquartile range 20-28).
- primaryOutcome Treatment outcomes were categorized as improvement (healed, improved) or no improvement of underlying PSD.
- result In the subgroup of patients who did not undergo surgery (n = 32, 33%), 25 patients (78%) had improvement or healing in their PSD.
- result The number of laser hair removal sessions was the only predictive factor for symptom resolution (P < 0.001).
Clin Exp Dermatol · PMID 39815683 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Aljarrah et al. 2024
Limberg flap for previously recurrent complex sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus surgeries
Healed within weeks; back to work in six weeksCase seriesVery low qualityRelated question
10 peoplean average follow-up time of about 3 months
patients stayed in hospital 3 days on average, returned to work after 6 weeks, those with flap oedema took 2-3 weeks to heal with regular dressing, and there were no recurrences over an average follow-up of about 3 months
Who was studied
people with complex or at least twice-recurrent pilonidal sinus disease who had Limberg flap surgery
What they received
Limberg flap surgery for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
time to heal, return to work, and recurrence after surgery
Quality
only 10 patients were studied, there was no comparison group, and follow-up was short (about 3 months), so the findings are not reliable for general healing time.
Limitations
very small sample (10 patients), no control group, short average follow-up of about 3 months, and patients had unusually complex/recurrent disease rather than typical pilonidal cysts
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients selected were classified as complex and at least of a second recurrence of the disease
- intervention Limberg flap for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus
- n A total of 10 patients were operated from January 2022 to March 2023.
- primaryOutcome regarding the wound infection rate, seroma formation, postoperative pain relief, recurrence rates, return to work, its cosmetic final result and patients' satisfaction
- result stayed in hospital for 3 days in average, returned to work after 6 weeks, with 5 patients having flap oedema, 1 patient had wound infection, no one had flap necrosis, and there were no recurrences so far for an average follow-up time of about 3 months. Patients with flap oedema took 2-3 weeks to heal with regular dressing only.
Acta Chir Plast · PMID 39800555 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Breidung et al. 2024
Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Life following the Karydakis Flap Procedure for Pilonidal Sinus Treatment
Healed in about 3 weeksRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
103 people59 months
Wound healing took on average 21.4 days after the Karydakis flap surgery
Who was studied
People who had Karydakis flap surgery for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
Time for the wound to heal after surgery
Quality
This is a retrospective single-surgeon study without a comparison group, so healing time estimates may not generalize.
Limitations
Retrospective design, single surgeon, no control group, and follow-up partly done by telephone.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n A total of 103 patients were enrolled in the study.
- population patients who underwent reconstruction of pilonidal sinus using the Karydakis technique
- primaryOutcome focusing on postoperative complications, recurrence rate, wound healing time, and return to daily life
- result Wound healing time was on average 21.4 days postoperatively.
Adv Skin Wound Care · PMID 39792517 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Akyol 2024
Sinus laser therapy versus Karydakis flap procedure in the management of pilonidal sinus disease: a comparative analysis of intraoperative parameters and postoperative outcome
Return to work in 1–10 days after surgeryRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
106 people2024
Patients returned to work after a median of 1 day (range 1-3) following laser therapy versus a median of 10 days (range 5-20) following Karydakis flap surgery; pain scores and operative time were also lower with laser therapy, with no significant difference in complication or recurrence rates between groups.
Who was studied
patients with pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
time to return to work after surgery
Quality
This is a retrospective comparison of two surgical techniques without randomization, so it mainly shows how quickly people can return to work after different operations rather than the natural healing time of the condition itself.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no randomization, and the focus is on comparing two surgical techniques rather than tracking overall wound healing time.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients with PSD
- n A total of 106 patients with PSD
- primaryOutcome time to return to work after surgery (days)
- result earlier return to work [1 (1-3) versus 10 (5-20) days, p = 0.001]
- design this retrospective study
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 39699772 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Pérez-Bertólez et al. 2024
Pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment: lessons learned after 100 consecutive cases
Healing time varies a lot by surgery type.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
149 peoplemedium-term (not further specified numerically beyond healing period)
Healing time varied by surgical technique: median 4 weeks after endoscopic treatment (PEPSiT), 16 weeks after excision with open healing (EHSI), and 7 weeks after excision with stitched closure (EPC)
Who was studied
Children and teens who had surgery for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
Time to full healing after surgical treatment
Quality
This was a non-randomized comparison where surgeons chose the technique, which can bias results, and it was done at a single hospital.
Limitations
Quasi-experimental design (not randomized), surgical technique was chosen by the surgeon rather than assigned, single institution.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population A quasi-experimental study was carried out in pediatric patients undergoing pilonidal sinus surgery at a single institution from 2019 to 2022.
- primaryOutcome Median full healing process was 4 weeks [interquartile range (IQR): 3-8] in PEPSiT, 16 weeks in EHSI (IQR: 12-26.5), and 7 weeks (IQR: 4-10) in ECP (p < 0.01).
- result Median full healing process was 4 weeks [interquartile range (IQR): 3-8] in PEPSiT, 16 weeks in EHSI (IQR: 12-26.5), and 7 weeks (IQR: 4-10) in ECP (p < 0.01).
- n In total, 149 patients were studied-100 undergoing PEPSiT, 28 undergoing EHSI, and 21 undergoing EPC.
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 39656288 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Darnis et al. 2024
Does the holmium laser have a place in the treatment of pilonidal cysts? (Pilolas study)
Most healed within about three weeks.RetrospectiveLow quality
size not givenup to a year
Median time needing local wound care was 21 days, and 90.7% of patients were healed by one month after treatment; some patients had ongoing pain, infection, or recurrence afterward
Who was studied
patients who were treated for pilonidal cysts using the holmium laser
What they received
holmium laser treatment for pilonidal cyst
Compared with
SiLaT laser treatment for pilonidal cyst
Main outcome
whether the cyst wound was healed one month after treatment
Quality
This is a retrospective, single-group cohort study without random assignment or a concurrent control for healing time, so the findings carry limited certainty.
Limitations
Retrospective design, comparison to SiLaT laser outcomes rather than a randomized control, and some complications such as pain and recurrence noted during follow-up.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Retrospective cohort study with the primary endpoint being the cure rate one month after treatment.
- intervention The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using the holmium laser instead of the SiLaT laser in the treatment of pilonidal cysts.
- comparator The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using the holmium laser instead of the SiLaT laser in the treatment of pilonidal cysts.
- primaryOutcome Retrospective cohort study with the primary endpoint being the cure rate one month after treatment.
- result Median duration of local care was 21 days (mean = 22 ± 7.5) and healing rate at 1 month was 90.7%.
- followUp pain that can persist for up to a year after the procedure
Lasers Med Sci · PMID 39578271 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Pedersen et al. 2025
Distinct recurrence patterns according to disease manifestation in pilonidal sinus disease treated with cleft lift surgery at 5 years' follow-up in a large prospective Danish cohort
87% healed within 3 monthsProspective cohortModerate quality
392 people60 months (45-73 months)
87% of patients healed uneventfully within the first 3 months; 17% had recurrence at a median follow-up of 60 months
Who was studied
Adults with pilonidal sinus disease (primary extensive disease, nonhealing wounds after previous surgery, or recurrent disease) who underwent cleft lift surgery
Main outcome
Time to wound healing and recurrence after surgery
Quality
Large single-center prospective cohort with long follow-up, but no comparison group and all patients had a specific surgical technique so findings may not generalize to other treatments.
Limitations
Single high-volume center, specific surgical technique (cleft lift) only, no untreated or alternative-treatment comparison group mentioned
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Three hundred and ninety two patients (326 men/66 women) underwent BCL surgery over a 4-year period.
- population Of these, 127 (32.4%) presented with primary extensive PSD, 136 (34.7%) with nonhealing wounds and 129 (33.9%) with recurrent PSD.
- primaryOutcome Overall, 87% healed uneventfully within the first 3 months, and 17% had recurrence at a median follow-up of 60 months (45-73 months).
- result Overall, 87% healed uneventfully within the first 3 months, and 17% had recurrence at a median follow-up of 60 months (45-73 months).
Colorectal Dis · PMID 39551964 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Baños et al. 2025
Short-term results of unroofing and marsupialization compared to the Karydakis technique in the treatment of pilonidal sinus. A randomized prospective study
Faster recovery with marsupialization techniqueRandomised trialModerate qualityRelated question
122 people90 days
Patients who had unroofing and marsupialization had fewer complications at 15 and 30 days, shorter surgery time, and returned to daily activity sooner than those who had the Karydakis technique; by 90 days there were 3 recurrences with unroofing/marsupialization and none with Karydakis.
Who was studied
people having surgery for a primary pilonidal sinus without abscess
What they received
unroofing and marsupialization surgery
Compared with
Karydakis surgical technique
Main outcome
early complications after surgery and time to return to daily activity
Quality
It is a randomized study with a reasonable number of patients, but follow-up was only 90 days, which is short for judging full healing or recurrence.
Limitations
Short follow-up of only 90 days; single-center study; compares two surgical techniques rather than describing the natural time course of healing.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients who underwent surgery for primary PS with no abscess
- intervention unroofing and marsupialization (UM) is a simple surgery with good results
- comparator The Karydakis (K) technique is widely used
- primaryOutcome To evaluate early postoperative complications (EPC) 30 days after UM surgery compared to the K technique.
- n 122 patients with symptomatic primary PS were randomized: 60 in the K group and 62 in the UM group.
- result There were statistically significant differences between surgery and postoperative complications at 15 and 30 days in favor of UM. There were also differences in favor of UM in surgical time and return to daily activity. During the 90-day follow-up, there were 3 recurrences in the UM group and 0 in the K group.
Cir Esp (Engl Ed) · PMID 39427709 · Read it on PubMed ↗
de Kort et al. 2024
Phenolization of the sinus tract in recurrent sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease: long-term results of a prospective cohort study
Low recurrence, symptoms improved long-termProspective cohortLow qualityRelated question
57 people76 (SD 21.7) months
7 of 47 followed-up patients (14.9%) needed further surgery for recurrence after a mean of 76 months; quality of life and symptoms (pain, discharge, itching) improved compared to before treatment
Who was studied
adults with recurrent pilonidal sinus disease who had phenolization treatment
What they received
phenolization (chemical treatment) of the sinus tract for recurrent pilonidal disease
Main outcome
recurrence of the pilonidal sinus needing further surgery
Quality
this is a single-arm cohort with no comparison group, some loss to follow-up, and it measures recurrence and quality of life rather than how long the wound actually took to heal, so it does not directly answer how long a cyst takes to heal.
Limitations
No control group; 17.5% of patients lost to long-term follow-up; outcomes assessed by questionnaire rather than direct wound examination; focuses on recurrence and symptoms rather than time to wound healing.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population This study included all 57 patients who were initially prospectively included in this study for short-term follow-up after phenolization for recurrent SPSD.
- intervention phenolization for recurrent SPSD
- primaryOutcome The primary endpoint was recurrence.
- result Recurrence needing further surgery developed in 7 patients (14.9%) after a mean follow-up of 76 (SD 21.7) months.
- result there was improvement in the quality of life compared to preoperative levels (82.0, IQR 75.0-90.0 versus 74.0 IQR 52.5-80.0, p = 0.024)
- n This study included all 57 patients who were initially prospectively included in this study
- followUp after a mean follow-up of 76 (SD 21.7) months
Int J Colorectal Dis · PMID 39422799 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Ensor et al. 2024
Negative Pressure Dressing Versus Conventional Passive Dressing in Pilonidal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial
About 3 weeks to heal if no reopeningRandomised trialModerate quality
50 peopleweekly until wound healing, with a 2-month postoperative survey
In wounds that did not reopen, the typical time to full healing was about 21 days in both dressing groups; overall 42% of wounds reopened (dehisced) after surgery
Who was studied
People aged 12-40 having surgery to remove a pilonidal sinus with the wound closed off to the side (not down the middle)
What they received
surgical excision of the pilonidal sinus with off-midline primary closure
Main outcome
time until the wound fully healed
Quality
it is a small but randomized trial that tracked healing closely, though its main purpose was comparing dressings, not describing natural healing time
Limitations
Small sample size (50 patients), and the healing-time data come from a trial primarily designed to compare two dressing types rather than to describe healing time itself.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients (12-40 y) with PSD, requiring excision and off-midline primary closure
- intervention PSD excisions with off-midline primary closure
- primaryOutcome Median duration to wound healing was equivalent in nondehisced wounds
- result Median duration to wound healing was equivalent in nondehisced wounds, (CP 21.0 [14.0-29.5] versus NPWT 21.0 [16.0-24.0] days, P = 0.7)
- result The overall dehiscence rate was 42% (21/50)
- n Fifty patients were recruited, 25 to NPWT & 25 to CP.
J Surg Res · PMID 39393119 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Lan et al. 2024
[Clinical application of parasacral artery perforator flap in the treatment of Pilonidal Sinus Diseases]
Healed within about two weeks, no recurrence.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question
6 people6-16 months
median time from operation to stitch removal was 14 days, all wounds healed by first intention with no recurrence over 6-16 months follow-up
Who was studied
people who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
parasacral perforator flap reconstruction after removal of infected tissue
Main outcome
time to wound healing after surgery
Quality
Only six patients from a single center with no comparison group, so the healing time reported may not apply broadly.
Limitations
Very small sample (n=6), no control group, specialized flap technique rather than standard excision or open wound care.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n There were six patients with PSDs whose postoperative wound healing was repaired by PPF
- population postoperative wound healing in pilonidal sinus diseases (PSDs)
- intervention To harvest the flap from the gluteus maximus muscle surface and transfer it to the wound without tension.
- primaryOutcome clinical efficacy of parasacral perforator flap (PPF) on postoperative wound healing in pilonidal sinus diseases
- result mean duration from operation to stitch removal was 14 (range: 14-17) days, median follow-up time was 6-16 months. Incisions of all six cases achieved first-intention healing without early- or late-stage complications. No recurrence occurred during follow-up.
Zhonghua Wei Chang Wai Ke Za Zhi · PMID 39313437 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Azizoglu et al. 2025
Platelet-rich Plasma as an Adjuvant Therapy to Crystallized Phenol in the Treatment of Pediatric Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Healing took about 3 weeks with PRP, 4-5 weeks withoutRandomised trialModerate qualityRelated question
87 people2025
healing took about 19 days with PRP added versus about 31 days with crystallized phenol alone
Who was studied
children aged 0-18 treated for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
crystallized phenol treatment plus platelet-rich plasma injection
Compared with
crystallized phenol treatment alone
Main outcome
time to heal the wound
Quality
it was a randomized trial but from a single center with a modest number of patients, which limits how broadly the findings apply.
Limitations
single-center study comparing two active treatments rather than observing untreated or standard healing time alone
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Eighty-seven patients aged 0-18 were randomly assigned to two groups
- intervention In CP + PRP group, PRP injections were also administered.
- comparator the CP group (n = 42)
- primaryOutcome The CP + PRP group demonstrated significantly shorter healing times
- result The CP + PRP group demonstrated significantly shorter healing times (19.4 ± 7.88 days) compared to the CP group (30.7 ± 12.9 days) (p < 0.001).
- n Eighty-seven patients aged 0-18 were randomly assigned to two groups
J Pediatr Surg · PMID 39307596 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Karita et al. 2024
Long-term follow-up of pilonidal sinus disease treated by radial laser surgery
Recurrences typically appeared around one yearRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
83 peoplea median of 5.2 years, range 1.5 to 7.4 years
12.2 months median time to recurrence (range 4.2 to 51 months) in patients who had a recurrence; overall recurrence rate 14.5%, with 27.7% needing reoperation over a median follow-up of 5.2 years
Who was studied
People treated for pilonidal sinus disease with radial laser surgery
Main outcome
Recurrence and need for reoperation after laser treatment, over long-term follow-up
Quality
This is a retrospective review of medical records from a single center without a comparison group, so the timing findings may not generalize.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no control group, and based on medical record review which may miss or misclassify recurrence timing.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 83 patients who underwent the radial laser procedure for PSD between January 2017 and September 2019
- n 83 patients who underwent the radial laser procedure for PSD
- primaryOutcome Twelve patients had a PSD recurrence after their laser procedure, which gives a recurrence rate of 14.5%
- result These recurrences appeared at a median 12.2 months after the laser procedure, range 4.2 to 51 months.
- followUp Our follow-up time was a median of 5.2 years, range 1.5 to 7.4 years.
Langenbecks Arch Surg · PMID 39174833 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Yildirim et al. 2024
Results of Laser-assisted Closure (SiLaC) Surgery in Pilonidal Sinus Disease: Factors Associated With Success
Most healed; back to work fastRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
64 people17.0±8.06 months (range: 3 to 36)
85.9% recovery rate; mean time to return to work was 2.4±2.78 days; mean follow-up was 17.0±8.06 months
Who was studied
adults treated for pilonidal sinus disease with a specific laser procedure
What they received
laser-assisted closure (SiLaC) surgery for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
recovery (healing) rate and time to return to work after treatment
Quality
Single-center retrospective series of 64 patients with no comparison group, so healing timelines are not verified against another treatment method.
Limitations
No control/comparator group, retrospective design, and the procedure (laser-assisted closure) differs from the standard treatments (incision/drainage, excision, open wound care) the question asks about.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population All adult patients treated with this procedure between March 2020 and December 2023 were included in the study.
- intervention Pilonidal sinus treatment with sinus laser-assisted closure (SiLaC) method
- primaryOutcome the mean time for return to work was 2.4±2.78 days (range: 0 to 14). Our recovery rate was 85.9%.
- result Our recovery rate was 85.9%.
- result The mean follow-up period was 17.0±8.06 months (range: 3 to 36), and the mean time for return to work was 2.4±2.78 days (range: 0 to 14).
- n The study cohort consisted of 64 patients.
- followUp The mean follow-up period was 17.0±8.06 months (range: 3 to 36)
Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech · PMID 39140695 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Ram et al. 2024
Efficacy and safety of RD2 Ver.02, a whole blood clot therapy, coupled with a minimally invasive procedure in pilonidal sinus: a phase II study
Most healed by 3 months, some recurrence laterProspective cohortLow qualityRelated question
51 people12 months
At 3 months 42 of 51 (82.4%) were fully healed, at 6 months 46 of 51 (90.2%) were healed, and at 12 months 42 of 51 (82.4%) remained healed, with 6 patients (11.8%) experiencing recurrence by 12 months
Who was studied
People with pilonidal sinus who had a minimally invasive procedure plus a blood-clot treatment
Main outcome
Whether the wound had completely healed at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment
Quality
It was a small, single-arm, open-label trial of a specific novel product plus procedure, so it does not reflect general healing time after standard pilonidal treatments.
Limitations
Single-arm design with no comparator, small sample size (51 patients), and the intervention combined a novel autologous product with a minimally invasive procedure rather than standard treatment.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Overall, 51 patients participated in the study.
- population Patients with PNS underwent a minimally invasive trephine procedure under local anesthesia followed by RD2 Ver.02 instillation into the cavity.
- primaryOutcome Primary healing was assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months.
- result At 3 months, 42/51 healed (82.4%), 7/51 (13.7%) were granulating but not completely healed, and 2/51 (3.9%) failed to heal. At 6 and 12 months, 46/51 (90.2%) and 42/51 (82.4%) achieved complete healing, respectively. At 6 months, two PNSs recurred after initial healing and an additional four instances of PNS recurrence observed in 12 months, so a total of recurrence in six patients (11.8%).
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 39136828 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Brown et al. 2024
Treatment options for patients with pilonidal sinus disease: PITSTOP, a mixed-methods evaluation
Major surgery heals over a month slower.Prospective cohortModerate quality
667 people2024
healing took more than 34 days longer after major surgery than after minor surgery
Who was studied
adults referred for surgery to treat pilonidal disease at NHS hospitals
What they received
major surgical procedure for pilonidal disease
Compared with
minor surgical procedure for pilonidal disease
Main outcome
time to healing after surgery
Quality
it followed many real patients across many hospitals but was not randomised, had missing follow-up data, and used statistical adjustment rather than a controlled comparison
Limitations
Incomplete recruitment and follow-up data were an issue, particularly given the multiple interventions. Assumptions were made regarding risk adjustment.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Over half of patients (60%; N = 667) had a major procedure.
- population Patients aged > 16 years referred for elective surgical treatment of pilonidal disease.
- intervention Over half of patients (60%; N = 667) had a major procedure.
- comparator Outcomes compared between major and minor procedures using regression modelling, propensity score-based approaches and augmented inverse probability weighting to account for measured potential confounding features.
- primaryOutcome Pain postoperative days 1 and 7, time to healing and return to normal activities, complications, recurrence.
- result longer time to healing (>34 days estimated difference) and time to return to normal activities (difference 25.9 days, 95% confidence interval 18.4 to 33.4 days).
Health Technol Assess · PMID 39045854 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Yailian et al. 2024
Effectiveness and safety of an innovative silicone extender in suture reinforcement or dermatotraction: a retrospective study
Pilonidal healing time not reported separatelyCase seriesVery low qualityRelated question
50 people2024
Overall, across the whole mixed group of 50 patients (only 6 with pilonidal disease), wounds were fully healed within 7 days after the device was removed in 82% of patients; healing time was not reported separately for the pilonidal patients
Who was studied
Adults who had a silicone tissue extender device used after large wound surgery, including 6 who had pilonidal disease treatment (most of the group, 44 patients, had skin cancer excision instead)
Main outcome
Time until the wound was fully closed/healed
Quality
This is a small retrospective case series where only 6 of 50 patients had pilonidal disease, there is no separate healing data for them, and most of the cohort instead had skin cancer wounds.
Limitations
The abstract does not break out healing time for the 6 pilonidal patients specifically; results are pooled with 44 patients who had skin cancer excisions, and there is no comparison group.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n We identified 50 patients from July 2017 to December 2018.
- population Patients underwent cutaneous tumour-wide excision (n=44), or pilonidal disease surgical treatment (n=6).
- primaryOutcome The main outcome measure was the time to complete wound closure.
- result Healing was complete, without secondary dehiscence, within the first seven days after device withdrawal for 41 patients (82%).
J Wound Care · PMID 38967343 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Amir et al. 2024
Endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSiT) for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease: A prospective long-term study
Most wounds healed; some recurred.Prospective cohortLow qualityRelated question
67 people1-7 years
complete wound healing occurred in 60 of 67 patients (89.6%), with recurrence in 7 patients (10.4%); patients were checked for healing at 1, 3, 6 and 24 weeks after surgery and then yearly for recurrence
Who was studied
people treated for pilonidal sinus disease with a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure
What they received
endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSiT)
Main outcome
how long the wound took to heal, complications, ongoing discharge, and recurrence over 1-7 years
Quality
this was a single-center, single-surgeon-team study with no comparison group and a small number of patients, so it can't firmly establish a typical healing timeline.
Limitations
no control group, single surgical team, and the abstract does not give a specific average or median healing duration in days or weeks.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population comprised all pilonidal sinus cases undergoing minimal invasive endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment who were treated by a single surgical team
- intervention minimal invasive endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment
- primaryOutcome The primary outcomes were duration of healing, post-operative morbidities, persistence of discharge and recurrence at 1-7 years.
- result Complete wound healing was achieved in 60(89.6%) patients, while recurrence was seen in 7(10.4%).
- result The patients were observed for wound healing and discharge on follow-up in the out-patient department at 1, 3, 6 and 24 weeks.
- n Of the 67 patients, 55(82%) were males and 12(18%) were females.
- followUp recurrence at 1-7 years
J Pak Med Assoc · PMID 38948976 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Towfighi et al. 2024
Propeller Flap Reconstruction Following Pilonidal Cyst Excision: A Single-Center Experience With Same-Day Discharge
About 3-4 weeks to functional healingRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
26 people4.1 ± 5.4 months
On average it took 24 days for function to improve after flap surgery; follow-up averaged 4.1 months, and 11.5% had the cyst recur
Who was studied
patients who had surgery to remove a pilonidal cyst, followed by propeller flap reconstruction
Main outcome
time until wound function improved, and whether the cyst came back
Quality
This is a small retrospective chart review of one specific surgical technique (flap reconstruction) at one center, not a general picture of healing after typical pilonidal treatment
Limitations
Retrospective single-center review, short average follow-up (4.1 months), and specific to flap reconstruction rather than typical excision or open wound care
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Twenty-eight outpatient propeller flap reconstructions following pilonidal cyst resections were identified in 26 patients
- population Twenty-eight outpatient propeller flap reconstructions following pilonidal cyst resections were identified in 26 patients, with two patients receiving a second propeller flap due to recurrence.
- primaryOutcome Primary outcomes included flap survival, flap complications, and pilonidal disease recurrence.
- result Mean time to functional improvement was 24.0 ± 22.8 days.
- result Pilonidal disease recurrence occurred in three patients (11.5%).
- result Mean follow-up was 4.1 ± 5.4 months.
Ann Plast Surg · PMID 38885167 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Draullette et al. 2024
SiLaT: A paradigm shift in the treatment of pilonidal disease?
Healed in about 20 days.RetrospectiveLow quality
111 people339.2 (± 221.4) days
78.4% healed, with median time to healing of 20 days (range 15-30 days)
Who was studied
Adults with primary or recurrent pilonidal sinus treated with sinus laser therapy
Main outcome
Time to healing (closure of skin openings without seepage or abscess)
Quality
Single-center retrospective case series without a comparison group, so healing times may not generalize.
Limitations
Retrospective design, single center, no control group, and no predictive factors for healing were identified.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population All adult patients, who underwent SiLaT in our department for a primary or recurrent pilonidal sinus from June 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020, were included in the study.
- n In total, 111 consecutive patients, for whom the male/female sex ratio was 2.1 and the mean age 28.8 (± 9.4) years, were included in this study.
- primaryOutcome Healing was defined as the closure of cutaneous orifices and the absence of seepage or abscesses.
- result A healing rate of 78.4% was observed, with a median time to healing of 20.0 days (15.0-30.0).
- followUp The mean follow-up was 339.2 (± 221.4) days.
J Visc Surg · PMID 38849230 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Xie et al. 2024
Efficacy of Laser Treatment in Pilonidal Disease: A Single-Arm Meta-Analysis
Most healed within about a year.Meta-analysisLow qualityRelated question
1,214 people12 (range, 7.8-25) months
84.4% of patients had healed by a median follow-up of 12 months (range 7.8-25 months)
Who was studied
people treated for pilonidal cyst/sinus disease with laser therapy
Main outcome
whether the wound healed after laser treatment, over a period of follow-up
Quality
this pools single-arm (no comparison group) studies about one specific treatment, so it doesn't give a general picture of healing time across pilonidal cyst treatments.
Limitations
single-arm meta-analysis with no control group; focuses specifically on laser treatment rather than healing time after treatment in general; follow-up times varied widely across included studies (7.8 to 25 months)
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n The analysis included 1214 patients from 13 studies
- population patients from 13 studies, who fulfilled the pre-defined inclusion criteria
- primaryOutcome 1000 (84.4%) patients achieved healing after primary laser treatment
- result With a median follow-up of 12 (range, 7.8-25) months, 1000 (84.4%) patients achieved healing after primary laser treatment.
Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg · PMID 38776547 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Tas et al. 2024
A new midline closure technique without skin sutures: Long-term outcomes of primary repair of pilonidal sinus disease
Back to work in about 12-15 daysRandomised trialModerate qualityRelated question
160 peoplefive-year mean follow-up
Time to return to work decreased from 15 to 12 days with midline closure; complication rate was lower (3.7% vs 12.5%); over a five-year mean follow-up, recurrence occurred in 6.2% of the primary closure group versus none in the midline closure group
Who was studied
Male patients with pilonidal sinus disease treated surgically at outpatient surgical centers
What they received
Excision and midline closure without skin sutures
Compared with
Excision and primary closure (with skin sutures)
Main outcome
Time to return to work, complication rate, and recurrence after surgical treatment
Quality
It is a randomized multicenter trial with reasonable follow-up, but it only studied men and compared two surgical techniques rather than tracking natural wound healing time directly.
Limitations
Only male patients were included, and the study measured return-to-work time and recurrence rather than actual wound healing duration; excludes recurrent or complicated cases.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Group 1 (n=80; excision and primary closure) or Group 2 (n=80; excision and midline closure without skin sutures)
- population male patients with pilonidal sinus disease attended at two general surgery outpatient centers
- intervention excision and midline closure without skin sutures
- comparator excision and primary closure
- primaryOutcome the time required to return to work
- result Significant decrease (p<0.001) in the duration of the surgical procedure (35 to 25 minutes), length of hospital stay (one day to the day of the surgery), and of the time required to return to work (15 to 12 days) was seen for Group 2 patients.
- result During the five-year mean follow-up, five patients (6.2%) in Group 1 had recurrence compared to none in Group 2 (p = 0.023).
- followUp During the five-year mean follow-up
An Sist Sanit Navar · PMID 38725367 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Paz Oliveira et al. 2024
Minimum energy laser pilonidotomy (MELPi): a multicenter study of a novel method in pilonidal disease
Healed in about 15 daysRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
47 people12 months
the median healing time was 15 days, with recurrence in 10% of patients over an average 12-month follow-up
Who was studied
patients with pilonidal disease who underwent a laser treatment procedure
What they received
minimal energy laser pilonidotomy (MELPi)
Main outcome
time to wound healing after treatment
Quality
this is a retrospective, uncontrolled study of a novel laser technique in a modest number of patients, so the healing time reported may not generalize to standard pilonidal treatments.
Limitations
retrospective design, no comparison group, single novel technique (MELPi) rather than standard incision, excision or open wound care, multicenter variability
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population We included 47 consecutive patients who underwent 50 "minimal energy pilonidotomies (MELPi)" between 2019 and 2023 in four centers in Brazil.
- intervention a new pilonidotomy method using minimal laser energy
- primaryOutcome the median healing time was 15 days
- result The median hospitalization time was 6 h, and the median healing time was 15 days.
- result recurrence occurred in 5 (10%)
- n We included 47 consecutive patients who underwent 50 "minimal energy pilonidotomies (MELPi)"
Updates Surg · PMID 38704463 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gratiashvili et al. 2024
Efficacy of laser obliteration with limited excision of pilonidal sinus
Healing took about 6.5 to 14.5 weeks.Prospective cohortModerate quality
152 people2024
Wounds healed much faster with laser plus limited excision (about 6.5 weeks) than with wide excision (about 14.5 weeks), with no significant difference in recurrence
Who was studied
People with long-lasting (chronic) pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Laser obliteration with limited excision of the cyst
Compared with
Standard wide excision surgery
Main outcome
Time to complete wound healing, recurrence, and complications
Quality
It was a reasonably sized observational study comparing two treatments but was not randomized, so other differences between groups could have affected healing time.
Limitations
Not randomized; described as both 'prospective' and 'cross-sectional,' which is unclear methodologically; follow-up duration for recurrence not fully specified.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 152 patients with chronic pilonidal sinus disease
- intervention laser obliteration with limited excision (LOLE)
- comparator wide excision (WE) of the pilonidal sinus
- primaryOutcome The main evaluation criteria were complete wound healing, recurrence, and the complication rate.
- result The duration of wound healing was significantly shorter in the LOLE group than in the WE group (6.5 ± 2.4 vs. 14.5 ± 2.6 weeks, respectively).
- n A prospective, cross-sectional observational study of 152 patients with chronic pilonidal sinus disease was performed
J Int Med Res · PMID 38530042 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Tyrväinen et al. 2024
Comparison of laser ablation, simple excision, and flap reconstruction in the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease
Healing time not directly reportedRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
278 people15.4 ± 7.6 months to 87.6 ± 29.3 months
The abstract does not state a specific time for wounds to heal. It reports that follow-up ranged from an average of 15.4 ± 7.6 months (laser group) to 87.6 ± 29.3 months (flap group), and that uneventful healing occurred in 67.7% (laser), 66.4% (direct closure), and 56.4% (flap) of patients, with laser patients having more residual disease and direct closure/flap patients having more complications.
Who was studied
patients who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
whether wounds healed without problems (eventless healing), residual or recurrent disease, complications, and need for re-operation after different surgical treatments
Quality
This is a retrospective study comparing surgical techniques with very different follow-up durations between groups, and it does not directly measure or report how long it takes a cyst to heal.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no stated healing-time outcome, large differences in follow-up length between groups, and only indirect measures (uneventful healing rate, complications, recurrence) rather than actual time-to-heal.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population This retrospective study material included patients who underwent PSD surgery in the plastic surgery department of a single academic teaching hospital.
- n Among the 278 patients, 66 underwent laser treatment, 134 excision with direct closure, and 78 excision with flap closure.
- primaryOutcome Preoperative and postoperative data were compared between the groups including patient characteristics, residual disease, recurrent disease, complications, and re-operations.
- result The follow-up time ranged from 15.4 ± 7.6 months in the laser group to 87.6 ± 29.3 months in the flap group.
- result Eventless healing occurred in 67.7% of the patients in the laser group, 66.4% of the patients in the direct closure group, and 56.4% of the patients in the flap group.
- result There was significantly more residual disease in the laser group whereas significantly more complications were found in the direct closure and flap groups.
Lasers Med Sci · PMID 38291247 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Esmer et al. 2023
Clinical outcomes of crystallized phenol as a first treatment option in patients with recurrent pilonidal sinus
No specific healing time reported.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
107 people2023
No statistically significant difference between successful and unsuccessful treatment groups in time to recurrence, follow-up time, time to return to work, or time to walk/sit without pain, but actual durations were not given
Who was studied
People with recurrent pilonidal sinus disease treated with phenol
Main outcome
Whether phenol treatment succeeded or failed, and time to return to work, walk without pain, or sit without pain
Quality
This is a retrospective single-center study focused on predictors of treatment failure, not a systematic measurement of healing time, and it reports comparisons between groups rather than actual healing durations.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no control group, and no explicit healing-time data provided despite mentioning time-related variables.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 107 patients with recurrent the pilonidal disease who received phenol treatment in a single institute
- n This study retrospectively collected data from 107 patients
- primaryOutcome Patients were divided into two groups as successful treatment (ST) and unsuccessful treatment (UST) after phenol application.
- result We observed no difference between ST and UST in terms of age, gender, family history, surgical technique at the first operation, time to recurrence, procedure time, follow-up time, time to return to work, walk without pain or sit on the toilet without pain (p>0.05).
Ann Ital Chir · PMID 38131372 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Danihel et al. 2024
Sinus pilonidalis-elastic ligature as an optimal outpatient treatment
Healed in about 1 month.Case seriesLow qualityRelated question
50 people30 months (median observation time)
47 of 50 patients had complete recovery, with an average total treatment time of 1 month for complete healing; 3 patients had recurrence over a 30-month follow-up
Who was studied
People treated with elastic ligature for pilonidal sinus (acute abscess, recurrent abscess, or chronic fistula)
What they received
Elastic ligature treatment for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
Time to complete healing of the pilonidal defect
Quality
It is a small single-arm case series without a comparison group, so healing times may not generalize to other treatments.
Limitations
No control group; single specific technique (elastic ligature) rather than standard drainage or excision; median observation time used rather than fixed follow-up for all patients.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population The patients were divided into three groups according to the characteristics of pilonidal sinus: (1) acute primary abscess; (2) acute recurrent abscess; and (3) chronic fistula.
- intervention We performed 50 elastic ligature procedures with a median observation time of 30 months.
- primaryOutcome average total treatment time of 1 month for complete healing of the defect
- result we observed complete recovery in 47 patients and recurrence in three patients. Return to work was possible immediately after the operation, with an average total treatment time of 1 month for complete healing of the defect.
- n We performed 50 elastic ligature procedures
- followUp median observation time of 30 months
Chirurgie (Heidelb) · PMID 38097850 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Tumer et al. 2023
Comparison of crystallized phenol and Karidakis flap treatment in pilonidal sinus disease
Recovery and return to work varied by treatment.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
216 people13.44 (11-16) months in the KFR group and 13.67 (11-16) months in the phenol group
Return to work took about 2.8 days after phenol treatment versus about 15.4 days after Karidakis flap surgery; recurrence occurred in 4.22% of flap patients, and phenol failed in 5.4% of patients after multiple sessions; patients were followed for about 13-14 months on average.
Who was studied
People treated for pilonidal sinus disease with either surgical flap reconstruction or phenol injection
Main outcome
Time to return to work, hospital stay, and recurrence after treatment for pilonidal sinus disease
Quality
This is a retrospective comparison of two different treatments without randomization, so differences in recovery time could reflect patient selection rather than true healing speed.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no randomization between treatment groups, and the study compares two specific treatments rather than describing the general time course of healing.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n 216 patients treated for pilonidal sinus disease with the researched methods between June 2016 and July 2019 were included in the study
- population 216 patients treated for pilonidal sinus disease with the researched methods between June 2016 and July 2019 were included in the study
- result The mean time to return to work was 2.79 (± 1.03) days in the phenol group and 15.35 (± 3.39) days in the KFR group.
- result In 4 (5.4%) patients, the improvement could not be achieved despite multiple sessions of phenol administration, and the procedure was considered unsuccessful.
- result Recurrence occurred in 6 patients (4.22%) in the KFR group.
- followUp The mean follow-up period was 13.44 (11-16) months in the KFR group and 13.67 (11-16) months in the phenol group.
- primaryOutcome The mean time to return to work was 2.79 (± 1.03) days in the phenol group and 15.35 (± 3.39) days in the KFR group.
Ann Ital Chir · PMID 38051512 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gulcu et al. 2024
Minimally Invasive Pilonidal Sinus Treatment: EPSIT Versus PEBAI Method
Wounds closed in about 1 monthRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
288 people24 (12 to 34) months
Wound closure took about 32 days after EPSIT versus 37 days after PEBAI; complete wound healing and recurrence rate were similar between groups, with follow-up averaging 24 months
Who was studied
People treated for pilonidal sinus disease with minimally invasive methods
Main outcome
Time to complete wound healing after treatment
Quality
This is a retrospective comparison between two surgical methods, not a study of untreated natural healing, so it gives only indirect evidence about typical healing time.
Limitations
Retrospective design comparing two specific minimally invasive techniques; not a general study of pilonidal cyst healing time across treatment types.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Patients who underwent EPSIT and PEBAI methods for PSD in a single center between January 2020 and October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.
- primaryOutcome The primary endpoint was healing
- result the wound closure time was earlier after EPSIT [32 d (24 to 41)] than after PEBAI [37 d (26 to 58)]
- result Complete wound healing ( P =0.382), recurrence rate ( P =0.533), quality of life at first month and (Wound evaluation scale score at first year ( P =0.252) were similar in both groups.
- n One hundred 4 patients who underwent EPSIT and 184 patients who underwent PEBAI were included in the study.
- followUp The median follow-up was 24 (12 to 34) months.
Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech · PMID 37971236 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Şahin et al. 2023
Use of the laser in the pilonidal sinus alone or in combination with phenol
Most healed by 4 monthsRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
size not givenfourth month
Most patients in both groups achieved complete healing (91.7% laser-only, 95.5% laser-phenol), with recurrence noted after the fourth month in a small number of patients (13.6% laser-only, 4.8% laser-phenol); differences were not statistically significant
Who was studied
people treated for pilonidal sinus with laser or laser plus phenol at a hospital surgery clinic
What they received
laser treatment alone
Compared with
laser treatment combined with phenol
Main outcome
complete healing and recurrence of the pilonidal sinus
Quality
This is a small retrospective study without statistical significance and no clear total sample size reported, so it carries limited weight.
Limitations
Retrospective design, small and inconsistently reported group sizes, differences described as not statistically significant.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients with pilonidal sinus disease who were treated in the general surgery clinic of the Balikesir University Hospital between October 2019 and February 2022
- intervention laser treatment group
- comparator laser-phenol treatment group
- primaryOutcome complete healing
- result Recurrence was observed in three patients (13.6%) in the laser treatment group and one patient (4.8%) in the laser-phenol treatment group after the fourth month. Notably, 22 (91.7%) patients in the laser treatment group and 21 (95.5%) patients in the laser-phenol treatment group had complete healing.
Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) · PMID 37971129 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Kaba 2024
New factors affecting wound healing and recurrence after pilonidal sinus surgery in adolescents; seborrheic dermatitis and psychiatric co-occurring conditions
About half heal fine, rest varyRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
282 people2024
53.5% healed without problems, 22.6% had prolonged wound care, 17.7% never closed and recurred, and 6% recurred after healing; seborrheic dermatitis, obesity and psychiatric diagnoses were linked to the groups with worse healing
Who was studied
Adolescents who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
Pattern of wound healing after surgery (uneventful, prolonged care, non-closure with recurrence, or recurrence after healing) and factors associated with each
Quality
This is a retrospective chart review without a comparison group or controlled follow-up, so it can describe patterns but not prove causes.
Limitations
Retrospective design, single clinic, no standardized follow-up time reported, and factors are associative not causal.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n We retrospectively analysed 282 adolescent patients operated on in our clinic between 2014 and 2021.
- population adolescent patients operated on in our clinic between 2014 and 2021
- primaryOutcome We gathered the postoperative wound healing patterns of the patients under four groups.
- result 53.5% (n = 151) had an uneventful wound, 22.6% (n = 64) had prolonged wound care, 17.7% (n = 50) of the postoperative wounds did not close and had a recurrence and 6% (n = 17) had recurrence after the wound was healed.
Int Wound J · PMID 37722760 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Retracted by the journal — not counted
Xu et al. 2024
Simplified and modified Limberg flap plus vacuum-assisted closure for treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease
Back to activity in about 26 daysProspective cohortVery low quality
96 people2024
average time to remove the wound drain was about 6.4 days, average hospital stay was 19.4 days, and patients returned to daily activities after an average of 26.3 days; no recurrences occurred
Who was studied
young adults treated for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
simplified modified Limberg flap surgery combined with vacuum-assisted wound closure
Main outcome
time to drain removal, hospital stay, and return to normal activity after surgery
Quality
This is a retracted publication with only one treatment group and no comparison, so its reported healing times cannot be trusted.
Limitations
The paper has been retracted, it followed only one group of patients with no comparator, and came from a single hospital.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n The 96 patients ranged in age from 15 to 34 years
- population Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD), a chronic inflammatory disease, affects the sacrococcygeal soft tissue, especially in young adults.
- intervention simplified modified Limberg flap reconstruction with vacuum-assisted closure
- primaryOutcome extubation time, hospital stay, time to return to normal life or work, wound infection, wound dehiscence and recurrence rate were recorded
- result the average extubation time was (6.36 ± 1.55) days, the mean hospital stay was 19.4 days; no patients were lost to follow-up. None of the patients experienced post-operative recurrence, wound infection, seroma or hematoma.
- result The mean time to the resumption of daily activities was 26.3 days.
Int Wound J · PMID 37691134 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Ojo et al. 2023
Cleft closure (the Bascom cleft lift) for 714 patients-treatment of choice for complex and recurrent pilonidal disease (a cohort study)
Most heal within 12-16 weeksRetrospectiveModerate qualityRelated question
714 people12 months
Just over 60% healed initially, rising to 88.5% healed by 12 weeks and 91.8% by 16 weeks; most of the rest healed over following weeks, with only 3% needing further surgery; 5.3% had disease return at a median of 12 months after healing
Who was studied
People with extensive, complex or recurrent pilonidal disease who had cleft closure (Bascom cleft lift) surgery
Main outcome
How long wounds took to fully heal after surgery, and whether disease came back
Quality
A large single-surgeon case series over many years gives useful real-world healing timelines, but without a comparison group or randomisation it cannot rule out other explanations for the results.
Limitations
Single surgeon series across two centres over 26 years, no control group, and some patients lacked documented follow-up (656 of 714).
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population consecutive patients who underwent cleft closure surgery at two centres (St Mark's Hospital, London, and Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth) between 1995 and 2021 for either extensive, complex or recurrent pilonidal disease
- n Some 714 patients had a cleft closure of whom 656 had documented follow-up.
- primaryOutcome Primary study outcomes that were measured included rate of primary healing, time to complete healing and rate of recurrence.
- result Primary healing occurred in 60.7% (n = 398) rising to 88.5% by 12 weeks (n = 562) and 91.8% by 16 weeks. The remaining patients healed over the following weeks with only 19 wounds failing to heal completely (3%), requiring further surgery to achieve healing. After complete healing 5.3% of patients developed recurrent disease at a median of 12 months.
Colorectal Dis · PMID 37553846 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Mentessidou et al. 2024
Outcomes of Pediatric Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment: A Systematic Review
Healed in about 4 weeksSystematic reviewLow qualityRelated question
320 people13.5 months
weighted mean time to healing was 4.1 weeks, with treatment successful in 90.9% of patients; recurrence occurred in 9.1% after a weighted mean of 4.6 months
Who was studied
children and teenagers (under 18) who had endoscopic surgery for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
time to healing and treatment success after endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment
Quality
this is a pooled review of mostly uncontrolled case series using a specific endoscopic technique in children, so it may not reflect healing times for other treatments or age groups.
Limitations
studies included were on a specific endoscopic technique (PEPSiT) in pediatric patients only, with no comparison to conventional excision or open wound healing in the same review.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n A total of 320 patients (9 studies, 2018-2022) with a weighted mean age of 15.7 years and follow-up duration of 13.5 months were included.
- population Systematic search was performed for all studies on PEPSiT in patients younger than 18 years
- primaryOutcome pertaining to demographics, technique, and outcomes
- result PEPSiT was successful in 290 patients (90.9%) with weighted mean time to healing of 4.1 weeks. Recurrence was reported in 29 patients (9.1%) with weighted mean time to recurrence of 4.6 months.
- followUp follow-up duration of 13.5 months were included
Eur J Pediatr Surg · PMID 37494954 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gan et al. 2024
A meta-analysis comparing phenol treatment with surgical excision for pilonidal sinus
Phenol treatment heals faster than surgeryMeta-analysisModerate qualityRelated question
size not given2024
Postoperative complete healing time was significantly shorter than surgical healing time (weighted mean difference -17.11, 95% CI [-32.18,-2.03])
Who was studied
people treated for pilonidal sinus disease with either phenol injection or surgical excision
What they received
phenol treatment
Compared with
surgical excision
Main outcome
time until the wound completely healed after treatment
Quality
It pools data from 14 studies, but nine were non-randomized, which can bias the healing-time estimates.
Limitations
Included both randomized and non-randomized studies, and exact healing-time duration (e.g., in days or weeks) is not stated, only the relative difference between treatments.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Fourteen publications were included, including five RCTs and nine non-RCTs.
- population comparing phenol treatment and surgical treatment of pilonidal sinus
- intervention phenol treatment
- comparator surgical excision treatment
- primaryOutcome Postoperative complete healing time
- result Postoperative complete healing time was significantly shorter than surgical healing time (weighted mean difference -17.11, 95% CI [-32.18,-2.03]).
Asian J Surg · PMID 37419810 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Bilgin et al. 2023
Short- and mid-term results of diode laser treatment in pilonidal sinus disease and the role of endoscopic camera use on outcomes
Healed in about 27 days on averageRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
106 peoplea minimum of 1 year
Mean time to return to daily life was 4.5 (median 2) days; mean complete recovery time was 27.4 days; 87.8% of patients completely recovered
Who was studied
Patients with pilonidal sinus disease treated surgically with laser
Main outcome
Time to complete recovery (healing) after treatment and time to return to daily activities
Quality
This is a retrospective single-center study of one specific laser technique without a control group for healing time, so the findings may not reflect typical healing after standard treatments.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no control group, outcomes reported only for diode laser treatment rather than standard incision/drainage or excision methods
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population A total of 106 patients with PSD who underwent laser treatment between November 2017 and September 2021 were included in this study.
- n A total of 106 patients with PSD who underwent laser treatment
- primaryOutcome the mean complete recovery time was 27.4 ± 15.9 days
- result The mean time to return to daily life was 4.5 ± 5.5 (median 2, range 1-30) days.
- result Eighty-six (87.8%) patients completely recovered and the mean complete recovery time was 27.4 ± 15.9 days.
- followUp Follow-up period was determined as a minimum of 1 year.
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 37356014 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Turan et al. 2023
Bilaterally parallel elliptic flap versus Karydakis flap in primary pilonidal sinus disease: a randomized controlled trial
Back to activity in 3-4 weeksRandomised trialModerate qualityRelated question
102 people2023
Patients returned to work or school in about 21 days after the bilateral parallel elliptical flap versus about 27 days after the Karydakis flap; wound complications occurred in 18% vs 26%, and recurrence in 4% vs 5.6%, with no significant difference in hospital stay (about 1.4 days for both).
Who was studied
Adults having surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Bilateral parallel elliptical flap surgery
Compared with
Karydakis flap surgery
Main outcome
Time until patients could return to work or school after surgery
Quality
It was a randomized trial but relatively small and compared two surgical techniques rather than tracking general healing time, and it was registered only after the study was already underway.
Limitations
Small sample size, single center, and the trial was retrospectively registered after completion.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Patients that underwent surgery due to pilonidal sinus were included in the study.
- intervention Surgery was performed with the bilateral parallel elliptical flap (BPEF) technique in one group
- comparator and the Karydakis flap (KF) technique in the other group.
- primaryOutcome Postoperative pain, length of hospital stay, wound complications, time taken to return to work/school, and recurrence incidence were evaluated.
- result The time to return to work/school was shorter in the BPEF group (21.06 ± 6.37 vs 27.04 ± 7.45; p < 0.05).
- result Wound complications were observed in nine patients in the BPEF group (18.2%) and 14 patients in the KF group (26.2%).
- result Recurrence developed in two (4%) patients in the BPEF group and three (5.6%) patients in the KF group (p > 0.05).
- n A total of 102 patients were included in the study, 49 in the BPEF group and 53 in the KF group.
Int J Colorectal Dis · PMID 37351640 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Spindler et al. 2023
[Pilonidal disease: The revolution in minimally invasive surgery]
Healing time varies by procedure, not clearly statedNarrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question
size not given1 year
Lay-open excision with healing by secondary intention has low recurrence but involves long healing time and sick-leave; newer minimally invasive endoscopic and laser techniques aim for quicker healing with failure rates under 10% at 1 year and low complications, but this needs confirmation with longer follow-up
Who was studied
People with pilonidal disease undergoing surgical treatment
Main outcome
Healing time and recurrence after surgical treatment of pilonidal disease
Quality
This is a narrative discussion of multiple surgical approaches without a defined cohort, systematic methodology, or quantified healing-time data, so it cannot reliably answer how long healing takes.
Limitations
these interesting results need to be confirmed by better quality studies with longer follow-up
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Pilonidal disease is a common suppurative condition and affects 0.7% of the population.
- primaryOutcome This procedure has low recurrence rates, but involves daily nursing care, long healing time and long period of sick-leave.
- result Endoscopic and laser treatment of pilonidal disease have shown promising results, with failure rates of less than 10% at 1 year, few complications and low morbidity.
- result This procedure has low recurrence rates, but involves daily nursing care, long healing time and long period of sick-leave.
- limitations these interesting results need to be confirmed by better quality studies with longer follow-up
Rev Prat · PMID 37289117 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Salih et al. 2023
Non-operative management of pilonidal sinus disease; classification and outcome
No healing-time data; tracked recurrence risk onlyProspective cohortLow qualityRelated question
3,529 people6 weeks
The study tracked recurrence, not time to healing; the presence of an abscess was the strongest factor linked to recurrence, and patients were grouped into three classes predicting recurrence risk
Who was studied
people with pilonidal sinus disease treated with a non-surgical injection method
What they received
Salih's preparation (a non-operative sclerosing/antimicrobial injection treatment)
Main outcome
recurrence of the pilonidal sinus at 6 weeks after treatment
Quality
Large single-group cohort with no comparison group and only a short 6-week follow-up, so it can't show how long healing actually takes or compare to other treatments.
Limitations
No control/comparator group; follow-up limited to 6 weeks; focuses on recurrence classification rather than healing duration.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population consecutive patients that had pilonidal sinus
- intervention All the patients were managed using Salih's preparation.
- primaryOutcome The patients were seen at the clinic 6 weeks after the intervention to record data of recurrence.
- n only 3529 patients were included in this study
- result The most significant factor related to the recurrence was the presence of an abscess.
- result the patients were divided into three classes
Int Wound J · PMID 37259676 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gil et al. 2023
Management of Pilonidal Disease: A Review
No healing-time data reported.Narrative reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given2023
The abstract does not report a specific healing duration; it states that evidence on treatment outcomes is limited by inconsistent disease severity reporting and variable outcome definitions across studies
Who was studied
People with pilonidal disease undergoing treatment
Main outcome
How well different pilonidal treatments work and how long disease/recovery lasts
Quality
This is a narrative review summarizing treatment options and explicitly states the underlying studies are limited in quality and inconsistent, so it cannot answer how long healing takes.
Limitations
The abstract itself states current evidence is limited by study quality, inconsistent characterization of disease severity, and variable definitions/reporting of outcomes across studies.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population the management of pilonidal disease
- result Overall, the current evidence supporting the different treatment options is limited by study quality with inconsistent characterization of disease severity and use of variable definitions and reporting of treatment-associated outcomes across studies.
- primaryOutcome effectiveness at preventing disease recurrence
JAMA Surg · PMID 37256592 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Ganduboina et al. 2023
Laser ablation: a unique and beneficial therapeutic option for pilonidal sinus? And the potential for further innovation-a review
No specific healing time reported.Narrative reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given2023
Laser ablation showed the highest healing rate with Nd:YAG laser and SiLaT technique, low recurrence, and lower morbidity than conventional surgery, but no specific healing duration in weeks or months was given
Who was studied
People treated for pilonidal sinus with laser ablation techniques
What they received
Laser ablation procedures (SiLaC, SiLaT, PiLaT, LEPSiT) using diode or Nd:YAG lasers
Compared with
Conventional surgical methods for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
Healing rate, recurrence, and post-operative complications
Quality
This is a narrative review of mixed laser techniques without a clear systematic methodology or reported healing timeframes, and it focuses on comparing treatments rather than describing the natural time course of healing.
Limitations
The abstract does not specify how long it takes for the wound or sinus to heal, only relative comparisons between laser and conventional methods; no systematic quality assessment or pooled statistics are described.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Laser ablation in pilonidal sinus disease is a new minimally invasive technique with good treatment efficacy, low post-op morbidity, and shorter recovery periods following employment.
- intervention Techniques like sinus laser-assisted closure (SiLaC), sinus laser therapy (SiLaT), pilonidal sinus laser treatment (PiLaT), and laser-assisted endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (LEPSiT) were included and reviewed.
- comparator their effectiveness compared to other conventional methods
- primaryOutcome The highest healing rate was observed with Nd:YAG laser and the SiLaT technique.
- result Recurrence was low, particularly in patients who underwent multiple procedures. On reviewing the published literature, laser ablation procedures showed lower morbidity and post-op complications.
Lasers Med Sci · PMID 37204472 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Esposito et al. 2023
Pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT): report of a multicentric national study on 294 patients
Healed in about 23 days.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
294 people2023
Median time to full healing was 23.4 days (range 19-50 days); overall success rate was 95.2%
Who was studied
Children and teens (ages 10-18) who had pilonidal sinus disease treated with a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure
Main outcome
Time to full healing of the wound after treatment
Quality
This is a retrospective review of medical records from one treatment type without a comparison group, so healing time may not generalize to other treatments.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no comparison group, specific to one surgical technique (PEPSiT) in a pediatric population, so healing time may differ from other treatment approaches or adult patients.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population A total of 294 patients (182 boys), with median age of 14 years (range 10-18), receiving PEPSiT in the study period, were enrolled.
- primaryOutcome the median time to full healing was 23.4 days (range 19-50)
- result The overall success rate was 95.2% (280/294) and the median time to full healing was 23.4 days (range 19-50).
- n A total of 294 patients (182 boys)
Updates Surg · PMID 37145226 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Koskinen et al. 2023
Long-term results for pit-picking and flap procedures in primary pilonidal sinus disease
Most healed early; many recurred later.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
113 peoplemedian 9.3 years (range 5.4-10.6)
At the first follow-up visit after surgery, about three-quarters of patients in both groups had healed (75.0% with pit-picking vs 76.8% with flap surgery). Sick leave was shorter after pit-picking (median 14 days) than after flap surgery (median 21 days). Over long-term follow-up (median 9.3 years), the sinus came back much more often after pit-picking (50.9%) than after flap surgery (10.3%).
Who was studied
adults who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease (either mini-invasive pit-picking or a flap procedure)
What they received
mini-invasive pit-picking surgery (PPS)
Compared with
asymmetrical excision with local flap (AELF)
Main outcome
whether the wound had healed, and whether the disease came back, after pilonidal sinus surgery
Quality
This is a retrospective review of medical records comparing two surgical techniques, without randomization, so differences between groups could reflect patient selection rather than the treatments themselves.
Limitations
Retrospective design, patients were not randomly assigned to surgery type, and the abstract does not report an exact average healing time, only the proportion healed at one follow-up visit.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population We retrospectively studied the medical records of 146 patients who underwent primary PSD surgery between November 2010 and October 2015.
- n 113 underwent either the mini-invasive pit-picking surgery (PSS) (n = 55) or asymmetrical excision with local flap (AELF) (n = 58)
- intervention mini-invasive pit-picking surgery (PSS) (n = 55)
- comparator asymmetrical excision with local flap (AELF) (n = 58)
- primaryOutcome at the first postoperative follow-up visit, both surgery methods healed similarly (75.0% vs 76.8%, p = 0.83)
- result Our long-term follow-up, at a median of 9.3 years (range 5.4-10.6), revealed, however, that recurrence after PPS was markedly higher than after AELF (50.9% vs 10.3%, HR 6.65, p < 0.001).
- followUp median of 9.3 years (range 5.4-10.6)
BMC Surg · PMID 37118772 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Chen et al. 2023
[Effectiveness of fascial tissue flaps and skin flaps with layered sutures for repair of wounds after excision of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus]
Healed quickly, no recurrenceCase seriesLow qualityRelated question
9 people3-36 months
all wounds healed right away with no infection or wound breakdown, and no sinus came back during follow-up
Who was studied
people who had surgery to remove a pilonidal sinus near the tailbone
Main outcome
wound healing and recurrence of the sinus after surgery
Quality
this is a very small case series of only 9 patients with no comparison group, so it cannot reliably show typical healing time
Limitations
very small sample, no control group, specific surgical flap technique rather than general pilonidal treatment, no exact healing duration in days/weeks given
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n 9 patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus were admitted
- population 9 patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus were admitted
- primaryOutcome All incisions healed by first intention, and no complication such as incisional dehiscence or infection in the operative area occurred.
- result All incisions healed by first intention, and no complication such as incisional dehiscence or infection in the operative area occurred. There was no recurrence of sinus tracts
- followUp All 9 patients were followed up 3-36 months, with an average of 12 months.
Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi · PMID 37070318 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Esposito et al. 2023
Endoscopic Treatment of Pilonidal Sinus Disease in Children: A Systematic Review
Healing time comparison inconclusive so farSystematic reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given2023
Endoscopic treatment was better tolerated and had fewer complications and less recurrence than excision with primary closure, but the review says healing time has not yet been shown to be statistically better and will only be proven with more studies
Who was studied
Children treated for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Endoscopic (minimally invasive) treatment
Compared with
Excision and primary closure
Main outcome
Wound healing time, hospital stay, recurrence and complications after treatment
Quality
It is a systematic review of a small, mixed set of pediatric studies with no pooled statistics on healing time itself, so the evidence on healing duration is weak.
Limitations
Only 20 of 38 identified studies were included after excluding adult or irrelevant studies, and the abstract does not give actual healing time figures, only a comparison between techniques.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population PSD management in pediatric patients changed dramatically in the last few years
- intervention endoscopic techniques for PSD
- comparator excision and primary closure (EPC)
- primaryOutcome important endpoints such as wound healing time and length of hospital stay will be proved to be superior
- result Literature analysis shows that endoscopic techniques for PSD are superior to excision and primary closure (EPC) in terms of tolerance and postoperative conditions and, with the growing number of studies in the matter, important endpoints such as wound healing time and length of hospital stay will be proved to be superior.
- n We pooled 38 studies, 18 of these were excluded
J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A · PMID 37023403 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Karki et al. 2022
Surgical Outcome of Limberg's Flap Reconstruction in the Treatment of Pilonidal Sinus Disease in a Community Hospital
Back to work in about 2 weeksProspective cohortLow quality
42 people2022
mean duration of drain in situ was 4±1.34 days, length of hospital stay was 2.83±1.68 days, and mean days for return to work was 14.5±5.7; complication rate was 9.52% with no flap necrosis or recurrence
Who was studied
young adults (mostly male) treated surgically for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
time to recovery after surgery, including drain duration, hospital stay, and return to work
Quality
Small single-center study with no comparison group, so healing times may not generalize.
Limitations
Small sample size (42 patients), single hospital, no control group, and follow-up duration beyond return-to-work not specified.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n forty-two patients
- population 42 patients were operated ranging from 16-31 years with mean of 22.86 years, male to female ratio was 7.5:1
- primaryOutcome length of hospital stay was 2.83±1.68 days, mean duration of drain in situ was 4±1.34 days, mean days for return to work was 14.5±5.7
- result mean duration of drain in situ was 4±1.34 days, mean days for return to work was 14.5±5.7. We had a complication rate of 9.52% out of which 4.76% had seroma, 2.38% hematoma, 2.38% wound infection, and there was no flap necrosis or recurrence.
Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ) · PMID 37017164 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Horesh et al. 2023
Outcomes of Laser-Assisted Closure (SiLaC) Surgery for Chronic Pilonidal Sinus Disease
Most healed completely after laser surgeryRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
92 people2023
81.3% of patients healed completely, 8.8% had minor incomplete healing not needing further treatment, and 9.9% had recurrence or non-healing requiring reoperation in most cases
Who was studied
People with chronic pilonidal sinus disease who had minimally invasive laser surgery (SiLaC)
What they received
Laser-assisted closure (SiLaC) surgery for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
Complete healing rate after surgery
Quality
This is a retrospective single-center series without a comparison group and no explicit follow-up time stated, so it can't reliably show how long healing takes.
Limitations
Retrospective analysis, single center, no control group, and no explicit time-to-healing or follow-up duration reported
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population all patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery combined with laser therapy for PNS between September 2018 and December 2020
- intervention sinus laser-assisted closure (SiLaC) of pilonidal disease
- n A total of 92 patients (86 males, 93.4%) underwent SiLaC surgery for pilonidal sinus disease during the study period.
- primaryOutcome The primary outcome was complete healing rate, standing at 81.3% (74/91 patients).
- result In 8 patients (8.8%), there was minor incomplete healing that did not require reintervention. Recurrent/nonhealing disease was seen in 9 patients (9.9%), requiring reoperation in 7 patients (8.4%).
J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A · PMID 36888964 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Williams et al. 2023
Laser Ablation of Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Pilot Study
82% healed by 6 months.Case seriesLow quality
25 people6 months
82% of patients were healed at 6 months
Who was studied
adults and children treated for pilonidal sinus disease with laser ablation
What they received
laser ablation of the pilonidal sinus tract
Main outcome
whether the wound was healed at follow-up
Quality
This was a small pilot study with no comparison group and only 25 patients, so it cannot reliably show typical healing time.
Limitations
Pilot/feasibility study with small sample size, no control group, and follow-up time varied between patients.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population We performed laser ablation in adults and pediatric patients.
- n We performed 27 laser ablation procedures in 25 patients
- intervention Laser ablation provides a minimally invasive means of obliterating pilonidal sinus tracts
- primaryOutcome Eighty-two percent of patients were healed at 6 months.
- result Eighty-two percent of patients were healed at 6 months.
- followUp most recent follow-up (median, 6 mo)
Dis Colon Rectum · PMID 36877001 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Li et al. 2023
An effective and considerable treatment of pilonidal sinus disease by laser ablation
Healed in about a month.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
48 peopleevery 1 week for 1 month
All patients healed completely, with an average healing time of about 28 days
Who was studied
Adults who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Laser ablation using a 1470-nm diode laser fiber
Main outcome
Time for the wound to fully heal
Quality
Small single-center retrospective study of one specific laser technique with no comparison group and only one month of routine follow-up.
Limitations
Retrospective design, small sample, single center, no control group, short follow-up period for assessing recurrence.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population we retrospectively studied the data of our 48 patients who operated on this technique between March 2019 and July 2022
- intervention All patients were treated with laser ablation using 1470-nm radial diode laser fiber.
- primaryOutcome the time of wound healing were recorded
- result the healing rate was 100%, and the average healing time was 28.3 ± 5.5 days
- n Among the 48 patients, 41 males and 7 females, with a mean age of 27.7 years (range 14-42)
- followUp Postoperative follow-up was performed in the outpatient clinic every 1 week for 1 month.
Lasers Med Sci · PMID 36856904 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Song et al. 2023
The application of the Limberg flap repair technique in the surgical treatment of pilonidal sinus disease
Healed in about 15 days after flap surgeryRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
37 people2023
average wound healing time was about 15.4 days, with most patients healing in one stage
Who was studied
patients with pilonidal sinus disease who had Limberg flap surgery
Main outcome
time for the surgical wound to heal
Quality
this is a small retrospective single-treatment study without a comparison group, so it can only describe healing time after this specific surgery, not how pilonidal cysts heal in general
Limitations
retrospective design, small sample size, no untreated or differently-treated comparison group, specific to one surgical technique (Limberg flap)
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population PNSD patients who visited two medical centers and four departments in the People's Liberation Army General Hospital and were taking LFR treatment between 2016 and 2022
- n There were 37 PNSD patients
- primaryOutcome average wound healing time: 15.4 ± 3.4 days
- result average wound healing time: 15.4 ± 3.4 days. 30 patients (81.0%) healed in stage one and 7 (16.3%) had postoperative complications.
Int Wound J · PMID 36802113 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Anjum et al. 2023
A case report of sacrococcygeal foreign body presenting as pilonidal sinus
Healed within three weeksCase seriesVery low qualityRelated question
1 peoplethree weeks
the patient was completely healed by three weeks after treatment
Who was studied
a 13-year-old girl with a pilonidal sinus caused by a foreign body
Main outcome
time to healing after treatment with crystalloid phenol
Quality
this is a single case report, so it cannot tell us how long healing usually takes for people with pilonidal disease.
Limitations
single case with an unusual cause (a foreign body), not typical pilonidal disease, and treated with a specific chemical method not representative of standard care
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n a 13-year-old female student
- population the case of a 13-year-old female student who had pilonidal sinus in sacrococcygeal region for six months and was unresponsive to multiple treatments
- primaryOutcome on regular follow-up she was completely fine by the end of the third week
- result The patient was treated with crystalloid phenol and on regular follow-up she was completely fine by the end of the third week.
J Pak Med Assoc · PMID 36800737 · Read it on PubMed ↗
De Decker et al. 2023
Does minimally invasive laser-assisted treatment of pilonidal sinus disease live up to its expectations: a multi-center study with 226 patients
Most healed within about 4 months.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
226 people129 days [7-1120]
78.8% healed after one laser procedure, rising to 85.4% after one or more procedures, with a mean follow-up of 129 days (range 7-1120); 12.8% needed a secondary surgery
Who was studied
People treated with laser-assisted therapy for pilonidal sinus disease at three hospitals
What they received
Laser-assisted treatment of pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
Overall wound healing after one or more laser procedures
Quality
Retrospective, multicenter case series without a comparison group and a very wide follow-up range, so healing timing is uncertain.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no control group, wide range of follow-up times (7 to 1120 days), and findings specific to one treatment technique (laser)
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population The patient population is comprised of all patients undergoing laser-assisted treatment of pilonidal sinus disease at three Belgian hospitals between January 2017 and December 2021.
- intervention laser-assisted treatment of pilonidal sinus disease
- primaryOutcome The primary endpoint was overall wound healing after one or more laser assisted procedures.
- result The healing rate after one laser procedure was 78.8%. Some of these patients were healed by a second or third procedure adding up to an overall healing rate of 85.4% after one or more laser procedures.
- n A total of 226 patients were included with a mean follow-up time of 129 days [7-1120].
- followUp mean follow-up time of 129 days [7-1120]
Int J Colorectal Dis · PMID 36763170 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Abet et al. 2023
The value of honey dressings in pilonidal cyst healing: a prospective randomized single-center trial
Took roughly 2 to 3 months to healRandomised trialModerate qualityRelated question
100 people2023
mean healing time was 61 days with honey added versus 78 days with alginate dressing alone, a difference that was not statistically significant
Who was studied
adults with a wound that had not healed by 6 weeks after surgical excision of a pilonidal cyst, needing ongoing wound packing
What they received
alginate wick dressing plus honey
Compared with
alginate wick dressing alone
Main outcome
time for the wound to fully heal
Quality
it is a randomized trial but only looked at a selected subgroup of pilonidal wounds that had already failed to heal by 6 weeks, and the main comparison was not statistically significant
Limitations
study focuses on comparing two dressing types in persistent, slow-healing wounds rather than describing healing time for pilonidal cysts in general; difference between groups did not reach significance
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients with a persistent non healed wound which required packing 6 weeks after pilonidal cyst excision
- intervention the same design plus honey
- comparator simple alginate wick dressings
- primaryOutcome The mean healing time was 61 (± 44) days in the wick + honey group compared to 78 (± 55) days in the simple alginate wick group
- result The mean healing time was 61 (± 44) days in the wick + honey group compared to 78 (± 55) days in the simple alginate wick group (p = 0.094).
- n Fifty patients were included in each arm.
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 36598614 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Mahjoubi et al. 2022
RADICAL VERSUS CONSERVATIVE METHODS IN ONE-STAGE PILONIDAL ABSCESS SURGERY: THE EXPERIENCE OF A TUNISIAN CENTER
Faster wound healing with conservative surgeryRetrospectiveLow quality
57 people2022
the wound healed faster after conservative incision surgery than after radical excision, but excision had a lower rate of recurrence (19% vs 54%); no exact healing times in days or weeks were given
Who was studied
adults who had surgery for a pilonidal abscess
What they received
radical excision surgery for pilonidal abscess
Compared with
conservative incision/drainage surgery for pilonidal abscess
Main outcome
time for the surgical wound to heal and recurrence of the cyst
Quality
this is a small retrospective single-center study without randomization, so the comparison of healing speed could be biased by differences between who got each operation.
Limitations
retrospective record review and patient interviews, small sample of 57 patients, no exact healing duration reported, single center.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients operated on for pilonidal abscess, with a satisfactory postoperative follow-up
- intervention The type of operation was excision in 46 (81%) cases
- comparator incision in 11 (19%) cases associated with curettage in three cases and drainage in 1 case
- primaryOutcome We looked for the occurrence of postoperative recurrence in the medical records or by interviewing reachable patients.
- result Conservative surgery was significantly associated with faster healing of the surgical wound (p<0.001).
- result The recurrence rate was 19% in radical surgery and 54% in conservative surgery.
- n We analyzed 57 patients: 33 males and 24 females.
Arq Bras Cir Dig · PMID 36542008 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Halaclar et al. 2022
Comparison of different interval times of Limberg flap reconstruction after pilonidal sinus abscess
No difference in complications by surgery timingRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
132 people2022
No difference in pain, complications, or recurrence between the two timing groups, but patients who had surgery earlier (<4 weeks) took longer to return to work
Who was studied
People who had Limberg flap surgery after drainage of a pilonidal abscess
What they received
Limberg flap reconstruction performed less than 4 weeks after abscess drainage
Compared with
Limberg flap reconstruction performed more than 4 weeks after abscess drainage
Main outcome
Time to return to work, complications, and recurrence after surgery
Quality
This is a retrospective study comparing surgical timing, not a direct measure of how long a pilonidal cyst takes to heal naturally or after drainage alone.
Limitations
Retrospective design, unequal group sizes (100 vs 32), single private hospital, and no data on actual wound healing time.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients with Limberg flap reconstruction performed after pilonidal abscess drainage between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2019 at a private hospital in Adana, Turkey
- intervention interval times from the abscess drainage as <4 weeks (Group 1, 100 patients)
- comparator >4 weeks (Group 2, 32 patients)
- primaryOutcome compared in terms of return to work, complications, and recurrence
- result There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of postoperative pain, individual complications, and recurrence (p=0.999). However, the time to return to work was longer in Group 1 (p=0.012).
- n <4 weeks (Group 1, 100 patients) and >4 weeks (Group 2, 32 patients)
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci · PMID 36524520 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Svarre et al. 2023
Long-term outcome after Bascom's cleft-lift procedure under tumescent local analgesia for pilonidal sinus disease: a cohort study
Healed in about a monthProspective cohortModerate quality
200 peoplemedian 8.5 (1.0-10.7) years
Most wounds healed completely within about a month, with low long-term recurrence
Who was studied
patients with complex pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
wound healing time and 10-year recurrence after cleft-lift surgery
Quality
Large single-centre cohort with long follow-up and prospective data, but no comparison group and single-surgeon/centre setting limits generalisability.
Limitations
Single-centre study without a comparator group; relies partly on survey data and electronic records.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Two hundred patients with complex pilonidal sinus disease were included.
- primaryOutcome The primary outcome was the 10-year risk treatment success defined as complete wound healing within 180 days of surgery or no recurrence assessed with competing risk analyses.
- result One hundred and ninety-five patients had complete wound healing within 180 days with a median time of 29 days (interquartile range 16-47).
- n Two hundred patients with complex pilonidal sinus disease were included.
- followUp median follow-up time of 8.5 (1.0-10.7) years
Colorectal Dis · PMID 36401803 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Chen et al. 2022
Comparative analysis on the effect of the endoscopic versus conventional treatment for pilonidal sinus: A meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials
No healing duration reportedMeta-analysisLow qualityRelated question
size not given2022
healing time was similar between endoscopic treatment and conventional excision with primary closure, but no actual duration in days or weeks was given
Who was studied
people who had surgery or endoscopic treatment for pilonidal sinus
What they received
endoscopic treatment for pilonidal sinus
Compared with
conventional surgical excision with primary closure
Main outcome
time to complete wound healing
Quality
this is a meta-analysis of only six studies with very high statistical inconsistency (I2=99% for pain), and it does not report actual healing-time figures, only that the two treatments were 'similar'.
Limitations
small number of included trials, high heterogeneity, and no numeric healing-time data provided for either group
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population comparing the outcomes of endoscopic treatment versus conventional treatment for pilonidal sinus disease
- intervention endoscopic management
- comparator excision followed by the primary closure technique
- primaryOutcome total healing time
- result Compared to the excision followed by the primary closure technique, the operation time, time to complete wound healing, and satisfaction were similar.
Medicine (Baltimore) · PMID 36397424 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Esposito et al. 2023
Quality of life of pediatric patients operated for pilonidal sinus disease
Healing took 20 to 75 days depending on surgery type.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
177 people2023
Healing time was 40 to 75 days with open surgery versus 20 to 41 days with endoscopic treatment (PEPSIT)
Who was studied
Children who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
Healing time and quality of life after treatment
Quality
This is a retrospective review comparing two surgery types, not a controlled study of natural healing time, so it only loosely answers how long healing takes in general.
Limitations
Retrospective design, comparison of two different surgical techniques rather than a general account of healing time, no control group without surgery.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n The records of 177 patients undergoing surgery for PSD from 2008 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed.
- population In children operated for pilonidal sinus disease (PSD)
- primaryOutcome healing time (HT), return to sport (RTSp), return to school (RTSc), resumption of social life (RSL), and recurrence rate and reoperation (RRR)
- result HT from 40 to 75 days in G1 while from 20 to 41 days in G2
Eur J Pediatr · PMID 36348071 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Serup et al. 2023
Long-term outcome after Bascom's pit-pick procedure for pilonidal sinus disease: A cohort study
Most healed, but recurrence rose over yearsRetrospectiveModerate quality
158 people7.98 (0.66, 10.96) years
8% needed another procedure due to incomplete wound healing, and by 10 years about 27% of those who initially healed had the cyst come back, giving an overall treatment success of 68%
Who was studied
people who had a pit-pick surgery for simple pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Bascom's pit-pick procedure
Main outcome
wound healing, recurrence, and complications over long-term follow-up
Quality
it followed a fairly large group of patients for many years using both records and surveys, but it was a single-center study without a comparison group and relied partly on patient-reported follow-up.
Limitations
Single-center cohort, relies on patient surveys/telephone interviews for some outcomes, no comparator group, and some loss to follow-up possible with online/telephone methods.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients registered in a local database after undergoing Bascom's pit-pick procedure
- intervention Bascom's pit-pick procedure
- n A total of 158 patients underwent Bascom's pit-pick procedure during the period August 2007 to March 2014.
- primaryOutcome the long-term risk of treatment failure, incomplete wound healing or recurrence, postoperative complications and patient reported outcome measures such as chronic pain and satisfaction with cosmetic appearance
- result Twelve patients (8%) had reintervention due to incomplete wound healing. A total of 32 patients experienced a recurrence. In competing risk analyses, the 10-year cumulative recurrence rate was 27% (95% CI: 19%-35%) of patients with complete wound healing. Treatment success was 68%.
- followUp Median follow-up was 7.98 (0.66, 10.96) years.
Colorectal Dis · PMID 36268754 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Milone et al. 2023
Endoscopic sinusectomy: 'a rose by any other name'. A systematic review of different endoscopic procedures to treat pilonidal disease
Healing time not clearly reported.Systematic reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given1 to 60 months
Follow-up across studies ranged from 1 to 60 months; postoperative complications occurred in 0%-6% of cases and recurrence rates varied from 0% to 22%, but the abstract does not state how long wounds or sinuses took to heal
Who was studied
people treated with endoscopic (video-assisted) surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
endoscopic sinusectomy procedures for pilonidal disease
Main outcome
how surgical technique was reported and standardized (IDEAL framework stage), with recurrence and complications as secondary outcomes
Quality
The included studies had moderate-to-critical risk of bias and poor reporting of technique details, so the findings carry little weight for answering how long healing takes.
Limitations
Poor reporting of technique details and outcome domains across studies; risk of bias moderate to critical in comparative series; this review focuses on technique variation and reporting quality rather than specifically on healing duration.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population A total of 38 articles were included reporting a very similar technique under eight different acronyms.
- intervention video-assisted surgery
- primaryOutcome The primary outcome measure was the IDEAL framework stage of innovation.
- result Mean follow-up ranged from 1 to 60 months.
- result Postoperative complications occurred in 0%-6% of cases, including surgical site infection, poor or failed wound healing bleeding, granuloma, haematoma, and pain requiring intervention.
- result The recurrence rate varied from 0% to 22%.
- followUp Mean follow-up ranged from 1 to 60 months.
Colorectal Dis · PMID 36217688 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Tazeoglu et al. 2022
Effect of treatment of pilonidal sinus with phenol on patients' clinical condition and quality of life
Faster recovery with phenol than excision.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
145 people4 weeks
Return to work, painless walking and sitting on the toilet, and mean daily pain scores were significantly shorter/lower in the phenol group than the excision group, but no exact number of days or weeks is given for either group.
Who was studied
patients who had surgery for pilonidal sinus (treated with either phenol application or surgical excision)
What they received
phenol application treatment
Compared with
surgical excision treatment
Main outcome
time to return to work, pain-free walking and sitting, daily pain scores, and quality of life after treatment
Quality
This is a non-randomised comparison of two treatments at one clinic with no exact healing times reported, so it gives only indirect and imprecise information about how long a treated pilonidal sinus takes to heal.
Limitations
No randomisation described, single-centre data, and no explicit duration (days/weeks) to wound healing or final resolution is reported — only relative comparisons between two treatment groups.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population The patients who underwent surgery with the diagnosis of the pilonidal sinus in our clinic between June 2019 and June 2021 were examined.
- intervention Phenol was applied to 83 (57.2%) patients
- comparator excision was applied to 62 (42.8%) patients
- primaryOutcome Return to work, painless walking and sitting on the toilet, and mean daily VPS values in the phenol group were significantly shorter than the excision group (p<0.05).
- result Return to work, painless walking and sitting on the toilet, and mean daily VPS values in the phenol group were significantly shorter than the excision group (p<0.05).
- n The study included 145 patients.
Ann Ital Chir · PMID 36155543 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Palmieri et al. 2023
Pilonidal sinus disease. A single center retrospective series analysis
No specific healing time reported.RetrospectiveVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2023
The abstract only states that minimally invasive procedures are associated with fewer dressings, faster recovery, and quicker return to work or school, but it does not give any specific healing time, number of days/weeks, or quantitative outcome data.
Who was studied
People with chronic pilonidal disease who were treated surgically
What they received
Gips technique (a minimally invasive punch/trephine procedure) for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
Recovery time and return to work or school after treatment
Quality
The abstract is mostly background text from a retrospective single-center series with no patient numbers, no measured healing times, and no follow-up duration reported, so it offers almost no usable evidence.
Limitations
No sample size, no quantitative healing or recovery times, and no follow-up period are reported in the abstract.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population The surgical approach to chronic pilonidal disease has been significantly changed by minimally invasive and targeted procedures
- intervention the Gips technique, also called Israeli technique or trephine technique
- primaryOutcome favoring less dressings, faster recovery, and prompt return to work or to school activity
- result favoring less dressings, faster recovery, and prompt return to work or to school activity
Ann Ital Chir · PMID 36151862 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Brewer et al. 2022
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Sacrococcygeal Pilonidal Disease: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Faster healing with PRP, time unclear overall.Meta-analysisLow qualityRelated question
930 people2022
Across the open-surgery studies, wounds treated with PRP healed on average 14 days faster than those without PRP, but there was very high variability between studies, so no single healing time could be established.
Who was studied
Patients who had surgery (open or minimally-invasive) for a pilonidal cyst/sinus
What they received
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) applied to the wound after surgery
Compared with
Standard wound care without PRP
Main outcome
Time for the surgical wound to heal
Quality
The pooled studies showed very high statistical variation between them (I2 = 98%), and the authors say more consistent, high-quality trials are still needed.
Limitations
Considerable heterogeneity among PRP manufacture and administration techniques; minimally-invasive studies could not be pooled due to methodological heterogeneity.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n incorporating a total of 621 (open surgery group) and 309 (minimally-invasive group) patients, respectively
- population following open and minimally-invasive sacrococcygeal pilonidal surgery
- intervention the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for wound healing
- comparator Pooled analysis of the six open surgery group studies demonstrated a significant reduction in wound healing time
- primaryOutcome a significant reduction in wound healing time (mean difference [MD] = - 13.98 days, 95% CI - 18.41 to - 9.55, p < 0.001, I2 = 98%)
- result PRP application was demonstrated to significantly reduce healing time, postoperative pain and time off work in the open surgery group.
World J Surg · PMID 36064868 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Sophie et al. 2022
Injection of freshly collected autologous adipose tissue in complicated pilonidal disease: a prospective pilot study
Healing took about 5 months.Prospective cohortLow qualityRelated question
30 people12 weeks
median time to complete healing was 159 days, with 83.3% of patients achieving complete healing
Who was studied
patients with non-healing pilonidal sinus wounds after surgery or anal-near primary/recurrent pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
time until the wound completely healed
Quality
this was a small pilot study of only 30 patients with no comparison group, looking at a specific novel fat-injection treatment rather than typical pilonidal healing
Limitations
small single-arm pilot study without a control group, focused on complicated/non-healing or anal-near cases treated with a novel fat-injection procedure rather than standard treatment
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n We included 30 patients
- population consecutive PSD patients with lack of healing 3 months after surgery (Bascom's cleft lift) or with primary or recurrent anal-near pilonidal sinus disease
- primaryOutcome The primary endpoint was time to healing.
- result The median time to complete healing was 159 (189) days.
- result Complete healing was achieved in 25 patients [83.3%; 95% CI (69.9-96.7)].
- followUp Patients were examined 2 and 12 weeks after surgery.
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 35963978 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Isik et al. 2022
Factors Associated with the Occurrence and Healing of Umbilical Pilonidal Sinus: A Rare Clinical Entity
No healing-time data reported.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
82 people2022
The abstract does not report how long it takes for the sinus/wound to heal; it reports that smoking was linked to recurrence and that the three treatments did not differ in recurrence rate.
Who was studied
people with umbilical pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
factors linked to recurrence after treatment (conservative treatment, surgery, or silver nitrate)
Quality
This is a small retrospective review of a rare umbilical location, not the more common sacrococcygeal pilonidal cyst, and it does not measure or report healing time at all.
Limitations
Retrospective design, small sample, and the population is umbilical pilonidal sinus rather than the typical sacrococcygeal site; no healing duration is reported.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 82 patients (19 women, 63 men) with a history of umbilical PSD between 2012 and 2020
- primaryOutcome to determine predisposing factors and treatment modalities
- result Smoking was the only modifying factor for recurrence. The three different treatment methods studied (conservative treatment, surgical treatment, silver nitrate) did not differ in recurrence rate (P = .57).
- n the authors evaluated 82 patients (19 women, 63 men) with a history of umbilical PSD
Adv Skin Wound Care · PMID 35856614 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Erculiani et al. 2022
Long-term results of EPSiT in children and adolescents: still the right way to go
Cyst can recur years laterRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
99 people36-61 months
8% of patients had the cyst come back within a year (around 6 months later on average), and 15% had it come back by about 4 years of follow-up (around 19 months later on average)
Who was studied
children and teenagers who had surgery (EPSiT) for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
recurrence of the pilonidal sinus after surgery
Quality
this is a single-center, retrospective review without a comparison group, so it mainly tracks recurrence rather than healing time itself.
Limitations
retrospective design, single center, not all patients had long-term follow-up, and it reports recurrence rather than wound healing time directly.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Patients under 18 years of age at first surgery were included.
- n A total of 99 patients underwent 115 EPSiT procedures in a 5-year period.
- primaryOutcome Details regarding demographic data, surgical procedure, and recurrences were recorded.
- result Eighty-three of these patients were assessed for short-term results and reported an 8% incidence of recurrences occurring after a mean of 6 months.
- result Fifty-nine patients have been followed up for at least 36 months (long-term results) with a median follow-up of 49 months (36-61 months) and reported a 15% incidence of recurrences occurring after a mean of 19 months postoperatively.
Pediatr Surg Int · PMID 35779104 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Fernandes et al. 2022
Minimally invasive treatment of pilonidal sinus disease in a paediatric population: comparison of two techniques
Healed in about 20 to 30 days.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
106 people2022
Median healing time was 20 days with sinusectomy versus 30 days with pit-picking plus laser ablation, a significant difference
Who was studied
Children and teens treated for pilonidal sinus disease with minimally invasive surgery
What they received
Sinusectomy (SE)
Compared with
Pit-picking plus laser ablation (PPL)
Main outcome
Time for the wound to heal after treatment
Quality
This is a retrospective review comparing two techniques without randomization, so differences in patient selection could affect healing time estimates.
Limitations
Retrospective design, comparison limited to two specific minimally invasive techniques rather than overall natural healing course, and no untreated or traditionally-treated comparison group.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n One-hundred and six patients were included
- population All cases of paediatric PD treated by PPL and SE at our center between August 2018 and August 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.
- intervention sinusectomy (SE)
- comparator pit-picking plus laser ablation (PPL)
- primaryOutcome Median healing time was significantly lower in SE group (20 days), comparing to PPL (30 days) (p = 0.002).
- result Median healing time was significantly lower in SE group (20 days), comparing to PPL (30 days) (p = 0.002).
ANZ J Surg · PMID 35678224 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Nasseri et al. 2023
Bilateral Gluteal Fasciocutaneous Advancement Flaps With and Without Tie-Over Sutures in Treatment of Chronic Pilonidal Disease: A Prospective Case Series
No recurrence, but wounds reopened in over a third.Case seriesLow qualityRelated question
51 people38.7 months
At a mean follow-up of 38.7 months, there were no recurrences but 19 (37.3%) patients had wound dehiscence
Who was studied
Patients with chronic pilonidal disease who had surgical excision and flap reconstruction
Main outcome
Recurrence and wound dehiscence after flap surgery
Quality
This is a single-arm case series without a comparison group, so it cannot show how healing time compares to other approaches or to no treatment.
Limitations
No control group; single surgical technique; does not report actual time-to-healing, only dehiscence and recurrence at follow-up.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Following elliptical excision of pilonidal disease, gluteal fasciocutaneous advancement flaps were elevated circumferentially
- primaryOutcome there were no recurrences and 19 (37.3%) patients had wound dehiscence
- result At a mean follow-up of 38.7 months, there were no recurrences and 19 (37.3%) patients had wound dehiscence.
- n This is a prospective case series of 51 patients (40 males and 11 females).
Am Surg · PMID 35580246 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gozukucuk et al. 2022
Comparing Crystallized Phenol and Surgical Excision Treatments in Pilonidal Sinus Disease
Faster return to activity with phenol than surgeryRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
319 people2022
Return to school averaged 2.8 days after phenol treatment versus 12.3 days after surgery; healing failed in 5.7% of phenol patients after three sessions, and 6.3% of surgery patients had recurrence requiring re-operation
Who was studied
patients treated for pilonidal sinus disease (mean age 15.5 years)
What they received
crystallized phenol application
Compared with
surgical excision (Karydakis flap method)
Main outcome
time to recovery and return to daily activities (school) after treatment
Quality
This is a retrospective comparison of two treatment groups without randomization, so differences in healing time could be due to how patients were selected rather than the treatments themselves.
Limitations
Not randomized; comparative study design with no mention of blinding or controlling for disease severity between groups.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Patients who were treated for pilonidal Sinus and treated with surgical repair (karydakis flap method) and crystallized phenol method were included in the study.
- intervention crystallized phenol application
- comparator Karydakis Flap method
- primaryOutcome The mean time to return to school was 2.8 ± 1.02 days in the phenol group and 12.3 ± 2.2 days in the Surgery group.
- result The mean time to return to school was 2.8 ± 1.02 days in the phenol group and 12.3 ± 2.2 days in the Surgery group. Despite the third session of phenol application, recovery could not be achieved in 12 (5.7%) patients. Among those who had surgery, recurrence occurred in 7 (6.3%) patients and they had to be operated once more.
- n Of the patients, 111 (34.7%) were treated with surgical repair, and 208 (65.3%) with the crystallized phenol method.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak · PMID 35546704 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Diéguez et al. 2022
En bloc resection vs. Gips procedure in pilonidal sinus surgery
Healing took about 3 to 6 months.RetrospectiveLow quality
60 peopleMedian follow-up time to healing was 6.13 ± 0.98 months vs. 3.31 ± 1.26 months
Median time to healing was about 6.1 months after en bloc resection versus about 3.3 months after the Gips procedure, a statistically significant difference
Who was studied
Children under 16 having surgery for a pilonidal sinus for the first time
What they received
Gips procedure (less invasive surgical technique)
Compared with
En bloc resection (traditional wider surgical excision)
Main outcome
Time until the wound healed after surgery
Quality
This is a small, retrospective study comparing two surgical groups of unequal size without randomization, so the healing-time estimates may be biased.
Limitations
Retrospective design, small and unevenly sized groups (46 vs 14), single institution, no randomization or blinding.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n 60 patients underwent surgery.
- population patients under 16 years of age undergoing PS surgery (EBR/Gips procedure) for the first time from 2014 to 2020
- intervention the Gips procedure was used in the second group
- comparator EBR was used in the first group
- primaryOutcome complications in the first month (exudate, wound infection, dehiscence, and bleeding), and result at the end of follow-up were collected
- result Median follow-up time to healing was 6.13 ± 0.98 months vs. 3.31 ± 1.26 months (p < 0.024).
Cir Pediatr · PMID 35485755 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Johnson et al. 2023
Pilonidal sinus laser-assisted closure (PiLAC) - a low-morbidity alternative to excision with excellent long-term outcomes
Most healed within about a yearRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
35 peoplemean 407 days (range 67-887 days)
Of 28 patients with long-term follow-up (mean 407 days), 25 (89.3%) had healed with no recurrence
Who was studied
People who had pilonidal sinus disease treated with a laser-based procedure (PiLAC)
What they received
Pilonidal sinus Laser-Assisted Closure (PiLAC)
Main outcome
Whether the pilonidal sinus had healed or recurred at long-term follow-up
Quality
This is a small single-centre case series without a control group, combining retrospective notes review with telephone follow-up, so recall and selection bias are likely.
Limitations
Small sample (35 patients, only 28 with long-term follow-up), no comparator group, follow-up partly by telephone, single-centre design
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population All patients undergoing PiLAC as a day-case between April 2016 and July 2019 were included.
- intervention We routinely treat primary and recurrent pilonidal sinus disease with Pilonidal sinus Laser-Assisted Closure (PiLAC).
- primaryOutcome Patients were followed up in a nurse-led clinic until complete healing or recurrence.
- result 25/28 patients (89.3%) had healed with no recurrence on long-term follow-up.
- n A total of 35 patients underwent PiLAC, median age 28 (18-53 years), 28 males:7 females.
- followUp mean 407 days (range 67-887 days)
Ann R Coll Surg Engl · PMID 35446708 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Hinksman et al. 2022
Long-term efficacy of endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment: a single-centre Australian experience
Most healed by about 6 weeksRetrospectiveLow quality
137 peoplemean 56.2 months
72.2% healed completely at a median of 6 weeks with no further treatment needed; 13.5% healed but then had recurrence; 14.3% never healed. Among those who had recurrence or failed to heal, repeat treatment led to healing in most within a median of 7 weeks.
Who was studied
People with pilonidal sinus disease treated with an endoscopic procedure (some had prior pilonidal surgery)
Main outcome
Whether and how quickly the wound healed after treatment
Quality
This was a retrospective, single-centre study with no comparison group and 11 patients lost to follow-up, so the findings are less reliable than a controlled study.
Limitations
Retrospective, non-randomized, single-centre design with 11 patients lost to follow-up; no control group.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 137 patients with PSD underwent EPSiT. Seventy-two had undergone previous surgery for PSD.
- primaryOutcome 72.2% (n = 91) of patients undergoing EPSiT achieved primary healing (needing nil further intervention) at a median of 6 weeks
- result 72.2% (n = 91) of patients undergoing EPSiT achieved primary healing (needing nil further intervention) at a median of 6 weeks; 13.5% (n = 17) experienced healing followed by recurrence while 14.3% (n = 18) experienced non-healing.
- result 20/35 underwent repeat EPSiT with healing occurring in 18/20 patients at a median of 7 weeks
- n 137 patients with PSD underwent EPSiT
- followUp Patients were then followed up for a mean 56.2 months.
ANZ J Surg · PMID 35347830 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Basso et al. 2022
The impact of experience on recurrence rates after biopsy punch excision for pilonidal disease
Healed in about 3 weeksRetrospectiveLow quality
848 people60 months
full recovery took on average about 21 days, with return to work/school after about 4 days; recurrence rates increased over time, being 8.1% at 1 year, 13.0% at 2 years, and 16.4% at 5 years
Who was studied
people treated for pilonidal cyst/sinus disease with biopsy punch excision surgery
Main outcome
time to full recovery and recurrence of the cyst after treatment
Quality
this is a single-centre retrospective case series without a comparison group, and follow-up was incomplete for a meaningful portion of patients over time.
Limitations
retrospective design, no control group, follow-up completeness dropped to 70% by 5 years, and results depended heavily on surgeon experience
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 848 patients with pilonidal disease (PD) treated by biopsy punch excision (BPE)
- primaryOutcome Full recovery was obtained after a mean of 21 ± 12.72 days and work/school/university activities were resumed after a mean of 4 ± 12.02 days.
- result 59 recurrences/725 patients (or 8.1%) after 1 year, 89 recurrences/682 patients (or 13.0%) after 2 years and 98 recurrences/595 (or 16.4%) after 5 years
- n 848 patients with pilonidal disease (PD)
Colorectal Dis · PMID 35344244 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Hemmingsson et al. 2022
Excision and suture in the midline versus Karydakis flap surgery for pilonidal sinus: randomized clinical trial
Healing took 2 weeks to 7 weeks, depending on surgery.Randomised trialModerate quality
116 people6-13 years
median time to complete wound healing was 49 days after excision and midline suture versus 14 days after Karydakis flap surgery, with no difference in recurrence after a median of 11 years' follow-up
Who was studied
adults with long-term pilonidal sinus disease who had surgery
Main outcome
time until the wound was completely healed, and recurrence rate
Quality
it was a randomized trial but was stopped early for slow recruitment, included only 116 analysed patients, and had no blinding of patients or surgeons, which can affect how healing was judged.
Limitations
study terminated early at interim analysis due to slow recruitment; not blinded; fewer patients than the planned sample size of 400
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Adult patients with a chronic pilonidal sinus disease
- n In total, 125 patients were randomized, of whom 116 were available for the present analysis.
- primaryOutcome The two co-primary outcomes were time to complete wound healing and recurrence rate.
- result Median wound healing time was 49 days (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 32 to 66) for excision with suture in the midline and 14 days (95 per cent c.i. 12 to 20) for Karydakis flap surgery (P < 0.001). There were five recurrences in each group, after a median follow-up of 11 years (P = 0.753).
- followUp late follow-up after 6-13 years was performed by telephone by two blinded assessors
BJS Open · PMID 35289848 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Zoarets et al. 2022
Trephine Minimally Invasive Procedure for Pilonidal Sinus
Back to normal in 10 days, but often recurs later.RetrospectiveLow quality
113 people29 months
Median time to return to work or school was 10 days; at a median follow-up of 29 months, 45.1% of patients had recurrence of the sinus
Who was studied
People who had a minimally invasive trephine procedure for pilonidal sinus, median age 20 years
What they received
trephine procedure for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
time to return to work/school and recurrence rate of pilonidal sinus after treatment
Quality
It is a retrospective single-center study with incomplete follow-up (113 of 169 patients) and relies partly on telephone recall, which weakens confidence in the exact healing time.
Limitations
Retrospective design, loss to follow-up (56 of 169 patients not included), and reliance on patient recall via telephone interview for long-term outcomes.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Follow-up included 113 patients, median age 20 years.
- population Follow-up included 113 patients, median age 20 years.
- intervention Patients who underwent trephine procedure between 2011 and 2015 were included.
- primaryOutcome The median time to return to work or school was 10 days.
- result At a median follow-up of 29 months (IQR 19-40), recurrence rate was 45.1% (51/113)
Isr Med Assoc J · PMID 35187898 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Mamaloudis et al. 2022
The role of alginate dressings in wound healing and quality of life after pilonidal sinus resection: A randomised controlled trial
No specific healing time reportedRandomised trialLow qualityRelated question
65 people2022
wound healing duration was comparable between the two dressing groups, with no specific healing time given in days or weeks
Who was studied
people who had surgery to remove a pilonidal cyst
What they received
alginate dressings with silver and cellulose on the wound
Compared with
simple gauze dressings
Main outcome
how long the wound took to heal
Quality
it is a small randomised trial that only compares two dressing types and does not report an actual healing duration for patients, and the authors themselves call the sample size suboptimal
Limitations
Due to suboptimal sample size and several study limitations, further RCTs are required to confirm our findings.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Overall, 65 patients were included during the study period.
- population after elective pilonidal cyst excision
- intervention alginate dressings with silver and high-G cellulose were introduced after elective pilonidal cyst excision
- comparator in the control group, simple gauges were used
- primaryOutcome The primary end point was the difference in terms of the wound healing period.
- result Wound healing duration was comparable between the two groups (P = .381).
Int Wound J · PMID 35043571 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gulcu et al. 2022
Endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment vs. laser-assisted endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment: short-term results from a retrospective case-matched study
Faster wound closure with laser methodRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
96 people9 months
Both groups had similarly high wound healing rates, but the laser-assisted method had significantly faster wound closure and shorter time to return to work; follow-up was a median of 9 months.
Who was studied
adults with pilonidal sinus disease who had endoscopic surgical treatment
What they received
laser-assisted endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (LEPSIT)
Compared with
standard endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSIT)
Main outcome
complete wound healing
Quality
This was a small, retrospective, case-matched study from a single hospital with short follow-up, so the findings may not hold up in larger or longer studies.
Limitations
Retrospective design, small sample size, single-center, short follow-up (3-15 months).
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Twenty-four LEPSIT patients were matched to 72 EPSIT patients.
- population patients who underwent LEPSIT and EPSIT procedures for PSD at Bursa Medicana Hospital, Turkey
- intervention laser-assisted EPSIT (LEPSIT)
- comparator the endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSIT)
- primaryOutcome The primary endpoint was complete wound healing
- result Wound healing rates (LEPSIT; 95.8% vs. EPSIT; 93%; p = 0.99) were similar in both groups.
- result time taken to return to work (p = 0.03572) and wound closure (p < 0.00001) were significantly less
- followUp The median follow-up time was 9 months (range 3-15 months).
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 35025023 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Sluckin et al. 2022
Sinus laser-assisted closure (SiLaC®) for pilonidal disease: results of a multicentre cohort study
Healed in about 6 weeksProspective cohortModerate qualityRelated question
311 peoplemedian follow-up of 10 months (range 1-52 months)
Mean time until wound closure was 6 weeks, with a range of 1 to 24 weeks
Who was studied
people treated for pilonidal disease with the SiLaC laser procedure
What they received
SiLaC (sinus laser-assisted closure) treatment for pilonidal disease
Main outcome
time until the wound fully closed (healed)
Quality
It was a cohort study without a comparison group and partly retrospective data collection, so healing times could be biased or incompletely captured.
Limitations
No control group, partial retrospective data collection, and follow-up time varied widely between patients (1-52 months).
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients with PD treated with SiLaC
- intervention sinus laser-assisted closure (SiLaC®)
- n A total of 311 patients were included
- primaryOutcome time until wound closure
- result Mean time until wound closure was 6 weeks (range 1-24 weeks).
- followUp median follow-up of 10 months (range 1-52 months)
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 34993686 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Spindler et al. 2022
Extensive suppuration and being overweight are factors associated with the failure of laser treatment for pilonidal disease: lessons from the first French retrospective cohort
Healed in about 25 days after laser treatment.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
29 people370.3 days
Mean time to healing was 25 days (±8.1 days); overall 69% of patients were considered cured, with 24.1% recurrence and 6.9% primary treatment failure over a mean follow-up of 370.3 days.
Who was studied
adults treated with laser therapy for pilonidal cyst/sinus disease
What they received
sinus laser therapy (SiLaT) for pilonidal disease
Main outcome
time to healing (closure of skin openings, no discharge/abscess) after treatment
Quality
This is a small, single-center retrospective study of only 29 patients with no comparison group, so its healing-time estimate may not generalize.
Limitations
Small sample size, single center, no control group, and the treatment studied (laser therapy) is a specific technique not one of the standard treatments (drainage, excision, open wound care) the question focuses on.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n We included 29 consecutive patients (22 males)
- population All adult patients treated with SiLaT in our department between June 1, 2018, and August 23, 2019, were included in the study.
- intervention sinus laser therapy (SiLaT) for the treatment of pilonidal disease
- primaryOutcome Success was defined as the closure of cutaneous orifices and the absence of discharge or abscesses.
- result The mean time to healing was 25 days (± 8.1 days).
- result We observed 2 primary failures (6.9%) and 7 recurrences (24.1%). Ultimately, 20 patients were considered to have been cured (69%).
- followUp The mean follow-up was 370.3 days (± 165.8 days).
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 34855026 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Sahin et al. 2022
Unroofing Curettage Versus Modified Limberg Flap in Pilonidal Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Healing took about 3-5 weeks.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
278 people60-month median follow-up for recurrence; healing time measured post-surgery
Complete healing took about 35.3 days on average after unroofing curettage versus about 23.2 days after modified Limberg flap surgery
Who was studied
Adults who had surgery for pilonidal disease (cyst/sinus near tailbone)
Main outcome
Time to complete wound healing after surgery
Quality
This is a retrospective study comparing two surgical techniques, not a controlled study of natural healing time, so the numbers may be affected by unmeasured differences between groups.
Limitations
Retrospective design; compares two surgical techniques rather than describing healing time generally; healing time depends heavily on which surgery was done.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n The data of 278 patients who underwent surgery for the treatment of pilonidal disease were analyzed.
- population Sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (estimated incidence, 25/100,000) is a chronic inflammatory condition that commonly affects young adults.
- primaryOutcome Secondary outcomes included adverse events, limitation of daily activities, and healing time.
- result The complete healing time was longer in the unroofing curettage group (35.3 ± 9.2 days vs 23.2 ± 5.4 days, p < 0.001).
Dis Colon Rectum · PMID 34840296 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Danilov et al. 2021
[Limberg Flap reconstruction for pilonidal sinus]
Longer healing but fewer complications.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
117 people2021
Hospital stay was longer with Limberg flap (8.2 vs 5.4 days) and sutures were removed later (13 vs 8 days), but wound infection (3.2% vs 14.5%) and recurrence (1 vs 6 patients) were lower with the flap technique
Who was studied
adults who had surgery for pilonidal sinus
What they received
Limberg flap reconstruction surgery
Compared with
conventional suturing of the sinus
Main outcome
wound healing time, complications, and recurrence after surgery
Quality
This is a small comparison of two surgical techniques without clear mention of randomization, so results may be biased by how patients were assigned to each group.
Limitations
No mention of randomization, blinding, or length of follow-up for recurrence; single-center data analyzed after the fact.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population There were 117 patients with pilonidal sinus divided into 2 groups depending on surgical approach
- intervention main group - Limberg Flap reconstruction (n=62)
- comparator control group - conventional suturing of sinus (n=55)
- primaryOutcome To compare the effectiveness of two surgical techniques in patients with pilonidal sinus.
- result Mean length of hospital-stay in the main group was 8.2 days, in the control group - 5.4 days.
- result In the main group, sutures were removed after 13 days, in the control group - after 8 days.
- result Incidence of postoperative wound infection was 3.2% in the main group and 14.5% in the control group.
- result Long-term postoperative recurrence occurred in 1 patient of the main group and 6 patients of the control group.
- n There were 117 patients with pilonidal sinus
Khirurgiia (Mosk) · PMID 34786914 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Fadgyas et al. 2021
[Fistuloscopy in the management of pediatric pilonidal sinus disease]
Healed in about 6 weeksCase seriesLow quality
28 people2021
average wound healing time was 5.9 weeks, return to everyday activity after 1.37 days, hospital stay averaged 1.74 days
Who was studied
children and teenagers treated for pilonidal sinus with PEPSiT surgery
Main outcome
time for the wound to heal after surgery
Quality
small, uncontrolled single-center case series without comparison group, so healing time may not generalize.
Limitations
small sample, no control group, excluded patients who did not attend follow-up, single surgical technique only
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients subjected to PEPSiT from 2019 to 2020 between ages 0-18 years
- n 31 PEPSiT operations were recorded on 28 patients
- primaryOutcome wound healing time and return to everyday activity were assessed
- result mean wound healing time was 5.9 weeks
- result Return to everyday activity was an average 1.37 days
- result mean length of stay was 1.74 days
Orv Hetil · PMID 34689133 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Boztug et al. 2021
Platelet-rich plasma treatment improves postoperative recovery in patients with pilonidal sinus disease: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Healing speed varies by surgical method used.Randomised trialLow qualityRelated question
size not givenpostoperative days 0, 2, 3, 4, and 21
Wound-healing time and cavity size were compared at postoperative days 0, 2, 3, 4 and 21; the group treated with curettage plus platelet-rich plasma had shorter healing times and smaller remaining cavity than the other groups, while the open-surgery-plus-PRP group had faster recovery per unit of cavity volume than the others.
Who was studied
adults with long-term (chronic) pilonidal sinus disease having surgical treatment
Main outcome
time for the wound to heal after surgery
Quality
This is a small single-trial comparison of different surgical techniques, and it reports relative differences in healing speed between groups rather than giving an overall typical healing duration, so it only partly answers how long healing normally takes.
Limitations
No total participant number given; healing time is reported only as relative comparisons between treatment groups rather than as an overall duration; follow-up timing for recurrence is not specified.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Patients who were over 18 years old and had chronic PS disease between March 2018 and January 2019 were enrolled
- primaryOutcome duration of wound healing after open excision and secondary closure
- result The cavity volume and wound-healing time were compared among the groups on postoperative days 0, 2, 3, 4, and 21.
- result Due to the nature of the treatment that group C received, this group achieved shorter healing times and smaller cavity volume than the other groups.
- result In contrast, the recovery time per unit of cavity volume was significantly faster in group B than in the other groups.
- followUp on postoperative days 0, 2, 3, 4, and 21
BMC Surg · PMID 34670534 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Sevinç et al. 2022
Comparison of Curettage Plus Platelet-Rich Plasma Gel and Curettage Plus Phenol Application in Treatment of Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Randomized Trial
Healed in about 6 to 10 days.Randomised trialModerate qualityRelated question
size not given43.1 months
Counted as a related question: This study compares two different treatments (platelet-rich plasma gel versus phenol application) to determine which heals faster, rather than answering how long a pilonidal cyst takes to heal after treatment in general; it tests whether one treatment is superior to another, not the natural healing timeline itself.
Median healing time was 6 days (range 4-14) with platelet-rich plasma versus 10 days (range 5-42) with phenol, a statistically significant difference
Who was studied
people treated for pilonidal sinus disease with minimally invasive curettage-based procedures
What they received
curettage plus platelet-rich plasma gel
Compared with
curettage plus phenol application
Main outcome
time to achieve healing of the pilonidal wound
Quality
It was a randomized trial with clear healing-time data, but it was a single outpatient-clinic study without blinding of patients or investigators.
Limitations
Neither the patients nor the investigators were blinded, despite the randomized prospective design.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Patients with pilonidal disease were evaluated for the study and were enrolled if they met the inclusion criteria and gave informed consent.
- intervention Patients in the platelet-rich plasma group were treated using curettage + platelet-rich plasma gel.
- comparator Patients in the phenol group were treated by using curettage + crystallized phenol.
- primaryOutcome The primary study end point was the time to achieve healing; the secondary outcome was recurrence rate.
- result The median healing time was shorter in the platelet-rich plasma group: 6 (4-14) vs 10 (5-42) days (p < 0.001).
- followUp After a mean follow-up of 43.1 months, there was a 4% recurrence rate in the platelet-rich plasma group in comparison with a 12% recurrence rate in the phenol group (95% CI, 0.024-0.251).
Dis Colon Rectum · PMID 34629430 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Pérez-Bertólez et al. 2021
Advantages of endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment
Healing time differs a lot by surgery typeProspective cohortLow qualityRelated question
49 people2021
Full healing was 11 weeks faster with the endoscopic technique (PEPSiT) than with excision and healing by secondary intention (EHSI), and return to normal life was 78 days faster than EHSI and 39 days faster than excision with primary closure (EPC); exact absolute healing times for each group were not given
Who was studied
children who had surgery for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
time to full healing and return to normal activities after surgery
Quality
this was a small single-center study where the surgical technique was chosen by the surgeon rather than randomly assigned, so the groups may not be comparable.
Limitations
Quasi-experimental design with surgeon-dependent (non-randomized) choice of technique, single institution, small group sizes, and no absolute healing time reported—only relative comparisons between techniques.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n 49 patients were studied
- population pediatric patients undergoing pilonidal sinus surgery
- primaryOutcome Full healing process was faster in PEPSiT than in EHSI
- result Full healing process was faster in PEPSiT than in EHSI (11 weeks earlier; 95% CI: 6.2-15.9; p < 0.001).
- result Mean time to return to normal life was shorter with PEPSiT - 78 days earlier than EHSI (95% CI: 42.2-114.9; p < 0.001) and 39 days earlier than EPC (95% CI: -2.5-81.4; p = 0.06).
Cir Pediatr · PMID 34606699 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Kubat et al. 2021
Effect of propolis on wound healing in sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Propolis sped up wound healing after surgeryRandomised trialLow qualityRelated question
33 people2021
Wound healing was faster in the propolis group from the first week, especially between days 14 and 28, and the complete recovery score was significantly lower than in controls
Who was studied
people with sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease who had marsupialization surgery
What they received
propolis applied to the wound after marsupialization surgery
Compared with
standard care without propolis after marsupialization surgery
Main outcome
time to complete wound healing
Quality
Very small trial with only 33 patients split between two groups and no exact healing-time numbers reported, so the findings are not very reliable.
Limitations
Small sample size of 33 patients split into two groups; no specific day-count for complete healing is given, only relative comparisons between groups.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n a total of 33 patients divided into study and control groups
- population Patients who were admitted to our clinic with sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease were analyzed prospectively
- intervention the effect of propolis on wound healing in sacrococcygeal pilonidal diseases treated with marsupialization
- comparator a total of 33 patients divided into study and control groups
- primaryOutcome the wound areas were analyzed post-operatively, on the 0, 7th, 14th, 28th days and on the day of complete recovery
- result An acceleration of wound healing was observed from the first week that was found to be even faster between days 14 and 28. The complete recovery score in the study group was significantly lower.
Pak J Pharm Sci · PMID 34602433 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Hannan et al. 2021
Negative pressure wound therapy following excision of pilonidal sinus disease: A retrospective review
Healed in about 4 weeks.RetrospectiveLow quality
61 people2021
All wounds healed, with the median time to healing being 28 days; 1.6% had the cyst come back
Who was studied
People who had surgery to remove a pilonidal sinus/cyst
What they received
Complete surgical excision followed by negative pressure wound therapy
Main outcome
Time for the wound to heal and recurrence of the cyst
Quality
This was a retrospective, single-center case series without a comparison group, so healing times may not generalize.
Limitations
Retrospective design, single technique/center, no comparator group to other treatments or to no treatment.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Sixty-one patients underwent treatment during the study period.
- population patients with PSD managed by complete surgical excision followed by application of NPWT
- intervention complete surgical excision followed by the application of NPWT
- primaryOutcome The primary endpoints were PSD recurrence and failed wound healing.
- result All patients' wounds healed successfully, with the median time to healing being 28 days. One patient (1.6%) developed recurrent PSD and required further surgery.
Colorectal Dis · PMID 34455675 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Calisir et al. 2021
Comparison of the Keystone flap and the Limberg flap technique in the surgical treatment of pilonidal sinus disease
Keystone flap healed faster than Limberg flap.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
124 people2021
Healing time was significantly shorter after the Keystone flap than after the Limberg flap, though exact healing durations in days or weeks are not given; recurrence rates did not differ.
Who was studied
patients who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Keystone flap surgical technique
Compared with
Limberg flap surgical technique
Main outcome
time to wound healing after surgery (plus operation time, return to work, complications, recurrence)
Quality
This is a retrospective, non-randomized comparison of two surgical techniques, so it mainly tells us which operation healed faster relative to the other, not the general time course of pilonidal cyst healing.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no randomization, no absolute healing-time figures reported, and it compares two specific surgical techniques rather than describing general healing time after treatment.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n A retrospective review was made of 124 consecutive patients surgically treated for PS disease with KSF and LF procedures.
- population 124 consecutive patients surgically treated for PS disease with KSF and LF procedures
- intervention Keystone flap (KSF)
- comparator Limberg flap (LF) technique
- primaryOutcome Operation time, healing time, and time to return to work were significantly shorter in the KSF group.
- result Operation time, healing time, and time to return to work were significantly shorter in the KSF group.
Updates Surg · PMID 34417712 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gulcu et al. 2021
Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment: Rapid Recovery, Satisfactory Success, and High Quality of Life
Most healed, quick return to activityRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
86 people12 (3 to 23) months
94.2% of patients had complete wound healing, 4.6% had incomplete healing, and 1.2% had recurrence; patients returned to daily activities after a median of 1 day and to work after a median of 3 days, over a median follow-up of 12 months
Who was studied
People treated for pilonidal sinus disease with a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure (EPSIT)
Main outcome
Complete wound healing after treatment
Quality
This is a retrospective analysis of a single treatment group with no comparison group, so it mainly describes recovery after one specific minimally invasive technique rather than pilonidal healing in general.
Limitations
Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, single technique (EPSIT) only, no comparator group, and exact time to complete wound healing (in days/weeks) is not explicitly reported.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients who underwent EPSIT for PD
- primaryOutcome The primary end-point of this study was complete wound healing
- result The complete wound healing rate was 94.2%, incomplete wound healing rate was 4.6% and the recurrence rate was 1.2%
- result the median time to return to daily activities was 1 (1 to 4) day, and the median time to return to work was 3 (1 to 11) days
- n The prospectively maintained data of 86 patients who underwent EPSIT for PD were retrospectively analyzed.
- followUp The median follow-up period was 12 (3 to 23) months.
Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech · PMID 34310558 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Yildiz 2022
Partial primary closure in sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus: Modified with suture technique
Healing time varies by surgery type and complications.Randomised trialLow qualityRelated question
96 people2022
Healing time was longer with partial primary closure in uncomplicated cases but significantly shorter in complicated cases compared to the Karydakis technique
Who was studied
people having surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
partial primary closure technique (with suture modification)
Compared with
Karydakis flap technique
Main outcome
wound healing time and complications after surgery
Quality
This is a small randomized trial of two surgical techniques with no blinding mentioned, so it gives only rough, technique-specific healing time estimates rather than a general picture of how long pilonidal wounds take to heal.
Limitations
Small sample of 96 patients split between two active surgical techniques, no blinding reported, and healing time is reported only in relation to complication status rather than as an overall timeline.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population A total of 96 patients diagnosed with pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) were randomly assigned to two groups.
- intervention Apply the partial primary closure in 46 patients
- comparator the Karydakis technique in 50
- primaryOutcome Healing time was also longer in uncomplicated cases
- result Healing time was also longer in uncomplicated cases (p = 0.200 and 0.064, respectively).
- result healing time for complicated cases was found to be significantly shorter in the PPC technique (p < 0.05).
- n A total of 96 patients diagnosed with pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) were randomly assigned to two groups.
Asian J Surg · PMID 34303591 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Romic et al. 2022
Laser treatment of pilonidal disease: a systematic review
Most healed within about a year.Systematic reviewLow qualityRelated question
971 people12 (range 7-25) months
Among 971 patients across 10 studies, 94.4% achieved primary healing, with a median follow-up of 12 months (range 7-25 months) and a weighted mean recurrence rate of 3.8%
Who was studied
People with chronic pilonidal disease treated with laser procedures
Main outcome
Whether the wound healed (primary healing) and time to healing/follow-up
Quality
This is a systematic review pooling small, non-randomized studies limited to laser treatment of mild chronic pilonidal disease, so healing times may not reflect all pilonidal cyst treatments.
Limitations
The abstract notes results were limited to mild chronic PD, techniques varied, and standardized outcome reporting was lacking; no randomized controlled trials were included.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population studies reporting laser treatment of chronic PD
- n including 971 patients
- primaryOutcome 917 (94.4%) patients achieved primary healing with a weighted mean recurrence rate of 3.8%
- result With a median follow-up of 12 (range 7-25) months, 917 (94.4%) patients achieved primary healing with a weighted mean recurrence rate of 3.8%
- followUp median follow-up of 12 (range 7-25) months
Lasers Med Sci · PMID 34291332 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Metzger et al. 2021
Room for Improvement: The Trephination Procedure for Pediatric Patients with Pilonidal Disease
Slow healing, many not fully healed by 6 monthsRetrospectiveLow quality
19 people6-months
Only about a quarter of patients were fully healed at 30 days, and just over 40% were healed by 6 months; 16.1% had the disease come back by 6 months and about 15% needed another operation
Who was studied
children and teenagers treated for pilonidal disease with the trephination procedure
What they received
trephination procedure for pilonidal disease
Main outcome
time to wound healing, disease recurrence, and need for a second surgery
Quality
This was a small, single-center retrospective study of only 19 patients, which limits how much the findings can be trusted.
Limitations
Small sample size, single institution, retrospective design, short follow-up window.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients that underwent the trephination procedure as part of standard of care for the treatment of pilonidal disease
- intervention A minimally invasive surgical approach using trephines was described by Gips in 2008
- primaryOutcome Outcome measures included healing time, recurrent disease, and need for reoperation.
- result Following trephination, 26.3% of patients were healed at 30-day's, with just over 40% showing complete healing by 6-months. The recurrence rate was 16.1% at 6-months and approximately 15% of patients required a second surgery.
- n A total of 19 patients underwent the trephination procedure
J Surg Res · PMID 34271267 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Chaffin et al. 2021
Surgical reconstruction of pilonidal sinus disease with concomitant extracellular matrix graft placement: a case series
Healed within 3 to 4 weeksCase seriesVery low qualityRelated question
6 people12 weeks
Five of six patients fully healed by 3 weeks, the sixth by 4 weeks, and all remained healed at 12 weeks
Who was studied
People with recurrent pilonidal sinus disease after failed prior surgery
What they received
Surgical flap reconstruction with extracellular matrix graft implantation
Main outcome
Time to complete wound healing
Quality
Tiny uncontrolled case series of only six patients with no comparison group, so healing times may not generalize.
Limitations
Very small sample size, retrospective design, no comparator group, and patients had complex recurrent disease with prior failed surgery, limiting generalisability to typical pilonidal cases.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population recurrent PSD, where previously surgical intervention had failed due to wound dehiscence and/or recurrent disease
- intervention surgical flap reconstruction with concomitant implantation of an ovine forestomach ECM graft under a fasciocutaneous flap with an off-midline closure
- primaryOutcome After three weeks, all patients except one were fully healed, and the sixth was fully healed by week 4
- result After three weeks, all patients except one were fully healed, and the sixth was fully healed by week 4; all wounds remained fully healed at 12 weeks.
- n The case series included six patients.
J Wound Care · PMID 34256587 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Roldón Golet et al. 2021
Pilonidal sinus in adolescence: is there an ideal surgical approach?
Healing took about 38 to 108 days depending on surgery type.RetrospectiveLow quality
61 people2021
Recovery took about 38 days with the Karydakis technique versus about 108 days with en bloc resection and open healing
Who was studied
Teenagers aged 11-18 who had surgery for pilonidal sinus
What they received
Excision with primary closure (Karydakis technique)
Compared with
En bloc resection with wound left open to heal on its own
Main outcome
Time to full recovery after surgery
Quality
This was a retrospective study comparing two different surgeon groups without randomization, so other factors could explain the difference in healing time.
Limitations
Retrospective, multi-center design with different surgical teams (pediatric vs general surgeons) performing each technique, which could introduce bias.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population adolescent patients (11-18 years old) diagnosed with pilonidal sinus and undergoing surgery from 2011 to 2017
- intervention excision with primary closure according to Karydakis technique (KT)
- comparator en bloc resection with secondary healing (EB)
- primaryOutcome Mean total recovery time (days)
- result Mean total recovery time (days) was significantly shorter in the KT group (37.77 KT vs. 107.76 EB, p< 0.001).
- n Our sample consisted of 61 patients (KT: 26 patients; EB: 35 patients).
Cir Pediatr · PMID 34254748 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gökbuget et al. 2021
Endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSiT) in the pediatric age group: Short-term results
Healed in about 2-9 weeksRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
29 people8.3±3.34 months
Average total wound healing time was about 18.7 days (range 7-60 days); most healed early (~14 days) but some healed late (~60 days)
Who was studied
Children and teens treated for pilonidal sinus with the EPSiT procedure
Main outcome
Time for the wound to fully heal after surgery
Quality
Small retrospective single-group study with no comparison group, so healing times may not generalize.
Limitations
Retrospective design, small sample size, no comparator group, short follow-up period, and recurrences requiring repeat procedures.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Of the twenty-nine patients (20 males, nine females)
- population pediatric patients with pilonidal sinus (PS) who were treated with the EPSiT method
- primaryOutcome The mean post-operative time of total wound healing was 18.71 days (7-60 days) for primary presenting cases.
- result Early wound healing was seen in twenty-five patients (average of 14 days), while late wound healing was observed in four patients (average of 60 days).
- followUp The mean time of follow-up was 8.3±3.34 months.
Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg · PMID 34213001 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Driouch et al. 2022
[Results of the Limberg flap procedure in acute and chronic pilonidal abscesses]
No healing time reportedProspective cohortLow qualityRelated question
39 people2022
Wound healing problems occurred in 10% of the acute-abscess group versus 17% of the chronic-sinus group (not a significant difference), and there was no recurrence in the acute group compared with 11% recurrence in the chronic group; the abstract does not state how long it took for wounds to heal.
Who was studied
adults treated surgically for either an acute pilonidal abscess or a chronic pilonidal sinus
What they received
Limberg flap surgery (a one-stage flap reconstruction) for pilonidal disease
Main outcome
rate of wound-healing problems and cyst recurrence after surgery
Quality
This is a small observational study of only 39 patients comparing two patient groups rather than measuring healing time directly, so it gives limited information for this question.
Limitations
Small sample size, non-randomized observational design, and the study measured complication and recurrence rates rather than time to healing.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n a total of 39 patients were included in this prospective observational study
- population 21 patients with acute pilonidal abscess and 18 patients with chronic pilonidal sinus
- intervention All patients were surgically treated with a 1‑stage procedure using the Limberg flap method
- primaryOutcome The groups were compared in terms of postoperative complication rates and frequency of recurrence
- result Analysis of the postoperative results showed a comparable rate of postoperative wound healing disorders (10% vs. 17%, p = 0.647)
- result In the group with acute pilonidal abscesses there was no recurrence during the observational period, while in the chronic pilonidal sinus group there were 2 (11%) recurrences (p = 0.206)
Chirurg · PMID 34132822 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Foti et al. 2021
A minimally invasive approach to pilonidal disease with endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSiT): a single-center case series with long-term results
Most healed after one procedure; exact healing time not given.RetrospectiveLow quality
42 peoplemedian 62 (IQR 43) months
76.1% of procedures resulted in healing after a single treatment, rising to 83.3% after a second procedure; the abstract reports wound healing time was measured as a secondary outcome but does not give the actual duration in days or weeks, only that median follow-up was 62 months and 13.0% had persistence and 10.9% had recurrence
Who was studied
adults treated for primary or recurrent pilonidal cyst/sinus with a minimally invasive procedure (EPSiT)
Main outcome
whether the wound healed, recurred, or persisted after treatment, and how long healing took
Quality
This is a single-center retrospective case series without a comparison group, so it can describe what happened to these patients but can't be generalized with confidence.
Limitations
Retrospective, single surgical team, no control group, and the specific wound healing time (though listed as a measured outcome) is not numerically reported in the abstract.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients treated with EPSiT, by a single surgical team, from March 2015 to December 2019, for primary or recurrent pilonidal disease
- n Forty-two patients underwent 46 EPSiT procedures
- primaryOutcome The primary outcomes were recurrence, persistence and treatment failure.
- result The single procedure healing rate was 76.1%. The healing rate for the first procedures plus the second EPSiT procedure (performed in 4 cases) was 83.3%. Among the 46 EPSiT procedures, we recorded six cases of persistence (13.0%) and five cases of recurrence (10.9%)
- followUp All patients completed the follow-up [median 62 (IQR 43) months].
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 34110535 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Abdelnaby et al. 2021
Sinus laser therapy versus sinus lay open in the management of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease
Laser surgery heals faster, open surgery more reliableRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
139 people12 months postoperatively
SiLaT led to quicker healing with less delayed wound healing, but lay open had better overall success with no recurrences recorded, while 6 patients had recurrence after SiLaT
Who was studied
Adults with sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease who had surgical treatment (sinus laser therapy or lay open)
What they received
Sinus laser therapy (SiLaT)
Compared with
Sinus lay open surgery
Main outcome
Complete healing of the wound by 12 months after surgery, and time taken to heal
Quality
This is a retrospective review comparing two surgical techniques, not a controlled study specifically measuring natural healing duration, so the findings on timing are indirect and subject to bias.
Limitations
Retrospective design, patients were not randomized between treatments, and exact healing times in days or weeks are not given.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Patients with SPND who were treated with SiLaT or lay open were retrospectively reviewed.
- intervention sinus laser therapy (SiLaT)
- comparator sinus lay open
- primaryOutcome The main outcome measures were the success of surgery in terms of complete healing at 12 months postoperatively, time to complete healing, complications, operation time and quality of life (QoL).
- result SiLaT was followed by a shorter healing time, lower incidence of delayed wound healing, better cosmetic outcome, and higher QoL scores compared to the lay open group.
- result Six patients experienced recurrence after SiLaT while there was no recorded recurrence after the lay open technique (P = 0.007).
- n A total of 139 patients with a mean age of 25 years were included to the study.
Colorectal Dis · PMID 34042233 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Kanlioz et al. 2021
A comparison of crystal phenol treatment, midline primary closure and Limberg flap reconstruction methods in female patients with primary pilonidal sinus disease
No healing time data givenRetrospectiveVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2021
no statistically significant difference has been noted between primary versus secondary (Karydakis flap or Limberg flap) closure
Who was studied
women may also be affected
Main outcome
recurrence and complication rates of the method, recovery time, patients' preference and surgeon's skill
Quality
The provided text is only introductory/background material with no reported methods, sample size, or measured outcomes, so it carries very little weight.
Limitations
This excerpt appears to contain only the background/introduction of the abstract; no actual results, patient numbers, or follow-up duration are reported.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population women may also be affected
- primaryOutcome recurrence and complication rates of the method, recovery time, patients' preference and surgeon's skill
- result no statistically significant difference has been noted between primary versus secondary (Karydakis flap or Limberg flap) closure
Ann Ital Chir · PMID 34031284 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Esposito et al. 2021
Pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT): what we learned after a 3-year experience in the pediatric population
Healed in about 3-4 weeks after surgeryRetrospectiveModerate quality
152 people12.8 months (range 1-36)
Complete healing within 8 weeks occurred in 145 of 152 patients (95.4%), with a median healing time of 24.6 days (range 16-31 days)
Who was studied
children and teenagers (under 18) with pilonidal sinus disease, some first-time and some recurrent
What they received
endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT), a minimally invasive surgical technique, with laser therapy before and after surgery
Main outcome
how long the wound took to fully heal after surgery
Quality
it is a fairly large multi-centre review of outcomes after one specific surgical technique, but it is retrospective with no comparison group, so the healing times may not generalise to other treatments.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no comparator group, and findings apply specifically to this endoscopic surgical technique rather than pilonidal disease treatment in general.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients < 18 years, with primary or recurrent pilonidal sinus disease (PSD), undergoing PEPSiT
- intervention All patients received pre-operative laser therapy, PEPSiT and post-operative dressing and laser therapy
- primaryOutcome healing rate/time
- result Complete healing in 8 weeks was achieved in 145/152 (95.4%) and the median healing time was 24.6 days (range 16-31)
- n A total of 152 patients (98 boys) were included
- followUp The median follow-up was 12.8 months (range 1-36)
Updates Surg · PMID 34021885 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Bonito et al. 2021
A Retrospective Study of the Safety and Efficacy of a Radial Diode Laser Probe in the Management of Pilonidal Sinus Disease
About 6 days to resume normal activitiesRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
25 people8.3 months
Mean time to return to daily activities was 5.8 days, with an 84% success rate, a 9.5% recurrence rate after a mean follow-up of 8.3 months, and 16% developing minor postoperative bleeding.
Who was studied
adults with mild pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
radial 1,470-nm diode laser treatment of the sinus
Compared with
none (single-arm case series)
Main outcome
recovery time and return to daily activities after treatment
Quality
This is a small, retrospective, single-group study with telephone follow-up and no comparison group, so the recovery times may not be reliable or generalizable.
Limitations
Retrospective design, small sample size, no control group, follow-up based partly on telephone questioning, limited to mild disease.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Twenty-five patients were included.
- population Twenty-seven patients with pilonidal sinus were treated with a radial 1,470-nm diode laser
- intervention radial 1,470-nm diode laser
- comparator Twenty-five patients were included.
- primaryOutcome the mean period required to return to daily activities was 5.8 days
- result The overall success rate was 84%. Recurrence rate was 9.5%, after a mean follow-up of 8.3 months. The mean duration of analgesia intake was 2.5 days, and the mean period required to return to daily activities was 5.8 days.
Dermatol Surg · PMID 33988547 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Algazar et al. 2022
Sinus laser closure (SiLaC) versus Limberg flap in management of pilonidal disease: A short-term non-randomized comparative prospective study
Healing rates similar; no healing time givenProspective cohortLow qualityRelated question
71 people2022
Primary healing occurred in 23 of 24 SiLaC patients (95.8%) and recurrence occurred in two patients in each group after initial healing; the abstract does not give a specific time period to full healing
Who was studied
adults with pilonidal cyst/sinus disease undergoing surgery
What they received
Sinus Laser Closure (SiLaC) treatment for pilonidal disease
Compared with
Limberg flap surgery for pilonidal disease
Main outcome
healing rate and recurrence after surgery
Quality
small, non-randomized comparison with short-term follow-up and no stated healing-time outcome, so it gives little solid information about how long healing actually takes
Limitations
Non-randomized comparison, short-term follow-up, no specific healing duration reported, and it studies two surgical techniques rather than the natural course of healing.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 71 patients with pilonidal disease
- intervention SiLaC technique
- comparator Limberg technique
- primaryOutcome primary outcome is healing rate and recurrence
- result the primary healing was achieved in 23 out of 24 patients (95.8%) with a total complication rate of 20.83%. There were two cases of recurrence after initial healing in each group.
- n A short-term follow-up of 71 patients with pilonidal disease was analyzed
Asian J Surg · PMID 33966964 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Khalilieh et al. 2022
Surgical Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Trephine Surgery for Pilonidal Sinus Disease and Risk Factors for Recurrence
Recurrence often takes over a yearProspective cohortModerate quality
130 people13.3 months (range 2-47 months)
About a third of patients had recurrence or non-healing wounds, occurring on average 13.3 months after surgery (range 2-47 months); repeat surgery healed 91.5% successfully
Who was studied
People who had minimally invasive trephine surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
Time to disease recurrence or non-healing wound after surgery
Quality
It followed a reasonably sized group prospectively, but over a third of the original patients had no outcome data, which weakens confidence.
Limitations
Only 64.2% of patients had available follow-up data, and the study was from a single center.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Two hundred three patients underwent MIS Trephine procedure for PNS, with data available on 130 patients (64.2%).
- n with data available on 130 patients (64.2%)
- primaryOutcome Overall recurrence and nonhealing wound rate was 33.07% (43 patients), with disease recurrence occurring in mean time of 13.3 months (range 2-47 months).
- result Overall recurrence and nonhealing wound rate was 33.07% (43 patients), with disease recurrence occurring in mean time of 13.3 months (range 2-47 months). Thirty-six patients underwent repeat MIS Trephine surgery with recurrence occurring in 6 patients (4.6%). Overall healing rate following repeat surgery was 91.5% (119 patients).
J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A · PMID 33960849 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Iesalnieks et al. 2021
German National Guideline on the management of pilonidal disease: update 2020
Healing is slow after open excision.GuidelineLow quality
size not given2021
Wide excision with open treatment leads to prolonged secondary healing and time off work, with considerable recurrence; minimally invasive procedures have higher recurrence rates; no specific healing duration is given
Who was studied
People with chronic pilonidal disease treated surgically
Main outcome
Wound healing, recurrence, and time off work after treatment
Quality
This is a guideline summarizing literature without reporting specific healing-time data or study numbers.
Limitations
The abstract does not give specific healing durations in days or weeks, only relative comparisons between treatment types.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population the chronic pilonidal disease
- primaryOutcome simple, painless procedure associated with rapid wound healing, and low recurrence rate
- result Wide excision and open treatment of chronic disease is a safe procedure which, however, leads to prolonged secondary healing and time off-work, as well as to considerable recurrence rate.
- result Minimally invasive procedures (e.g., pit picking surgery) represent a treatment option for chronic pilonidal disease. However, the recurrence rate is higher compared to excision procedures.
Langenbecks Arch Surg · PMID 33950407 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Dupuis et al. 2021
Sacro-coxxygial hygiene, a key factor in the outcome of pilonidal sinus surgical treatment?
Similar healing regardless of hygiene, no exact time givenRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
292 people2021
The abstract reports that healing time was similar across groups with different hygiene levels, but does not give an actual duration for healing.
Who was studied
Patients who had surgery (sinusectomy) for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
How long the wound took to heal after surgery
Quality
This is a retrospective, non-randomized study that compares hygiene groups rather than measuring healing time directly, and it never reports an actual number of days or weeks to healing.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no randomization, healing time is only compared between hygiene groups rather than reported as an absolute duration, and follow-up length differed significantly between groups.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n G1 (N = 112)
- n G2 (N = 109)
- n G3 (N = 71)
- population after surgical management of pilonidal sinus (sinusectomy procedures) in our division over a 10-year period
- primaryOutcome Secondary endpoints were, healing time, follow-up, time off work, and recurrence rate.
- result reached similar complications, median healing time and recurrences rates to patients with medium and good wound hygiene level
BMC Surg · PMID 33865363 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Emile et al. 2021
Karydakis procedure versus Limberg flap for treatment of pilonidal sinus: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
No difference in healing time between the two surgeriesMeta-analysisModerate qualityRelated question
1,943 people2021
Time to healing was similar between the Karydakis procedure and Limberg flap; the abstract does not give an actual number of days or weeks for healing
Who was studied
People who had surgery (Karydakis procedure or Limberg flap) for pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Karydakis procedure (a type of surgical closure for pilonidal sinus)
Compared with
Limberg flap (a different surgical closure technique for pilonidal sinus)
Main outcome
Time for the wound to heal after surgery, compared between the two surgical techniques
Quality
It pools 15 randomized trials with nearly 2000 patients, but it only compares two surgical techniques against each other and does not report an actual healing duration, so it cannot answer how long healing generally takes.
Limitations
The abstract only reports whether healing time was similar or different between two specific surgeries, not an actual duration, and does not describe natural healing without surgery or after simple drainage.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Fifteen randomized controlled trials (1943 patients) were included.
- population randomized trials that compared KP and LF
- intervention The Karydakis procedure (KP)
- comparator Limberg flap (LF) are two commonly performed operations for pilonidal sinus disease
- primaryOutcome The main outcome measures were failure of healing of PND, complications, time to healing, time to return to work, and cosmetic satisfaction.
- result Pain scores, hospital stay, and time to healing were similar.
Int J Colorectal Dis · PMID 33839888 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Saha et al. 2021
Limberg Flap in Pilonidal Sinus: Experience in Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital
Quick recovery, discharged in daysCase seriesVery low qualityRelated question
19 people2021
All patients had good postoperative outcome with minimal discomfort and were discharged in 3-4 days; 3 patients had complications
Who was studied
Adults treated surgically for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Limberg (rhomboid) flap surgery for pilonidal sinus
Main outcome
Postoperative recovery including hospital stay length and complications
Quality
Small, uncontrolled case series from a single center with no comparison group or detailed healing timeline.
Limitations
Small sample size, no control group, no detailed wound healing time reported, short description of outcomes.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population It includes 19 patients who were treated for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease by Limberg (Rhomboid) flap.
- intervention rhomboid excision and Limberg flap reconstruction in the management of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease
- primaryOutcome All patients that underwent the procedure had good postoperative outcome with minimal postoperative discomfort and were discharged in 3-4 days.
- result All patients that underwent the procedure had good postoperative outcome with minimal postoperative discomfort and were discharged in 3-4 days. There were 3 cases with complications.
- n It includes 19 patients who were treated for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease by Limberg (Rhomboid) flap.
Mymensingh Med J · PMID 33830126 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Giordano et al. 2021
Negative pressure-assisted endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment
Most healed; exact time unclearProspective cohortVery low qualityRelated question
13 peoplemean follow-up was 14 months (range 4-28 months)
Counted as a related question: This study tests whether negative pressure wound therapy improves healing after endoscopic pilonidal surgery, not the natural healing timeline of pilonidal cysts after standard treatment.
11 of 13 patients fully healed; 2 had only partial healing of the tract (one needed repeat surgery), assessed over a mean follow-up of 14 months; the abstract does not give an exact time to healing
Who was studied
men who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
how well and how quickly the wound healed after surgery
Quality
This is a tiny, single-arm case series of 13 patients with no comparison group, so it gives weak evidence about typical healing time.
Limitations
Very small sample size, single technique (NPA EPSiT), no control group, and no explicit reporting of days or weeks to heal.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Thirteen male patients underwent NPA EPSiT
- population All patients with PSD treated by EPSIT from November 2017 to October 2019
- primaryOutcome Primary outcome measures were healing rate and return to normal activities.
- result In two patients, only partial healing of the tract was achieved. One of these required a further successful NPA EPSiT, while the other one refused any other treatment because of the lack of symptoms.
- followUp The mean follow-up was 14 months (range 4-28 months).
Tech Coloproctol · PMID 33755853 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Çakır et al. 2020
Complications And Recurrence After The Karydakis Flap Surgery
Short hospital stay, some recurrence laterRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
112 people28 months
wound dehiscence by 10.2%, infection by 3.6%, and bleeding (hematome) by 7.1%; four patients developed recurrence during follow up; postoperative hospital stay averaged 2.1 days
Who was studied
patients who underwent Karydakis surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
complications and recurrence after surgery
Quality
It is a retrospective single-group review of one surgical technique with no comparison group and it reports complication and recurrence rates rather than directly measuring how long the wound takes to heal.
Limitations
Retrospective design, no control group, outcomes reported are complications/recurrence rather than a direct healing-time measure, and it covers only one specific surgical technique (Karydakis flap).
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population patients who underwent Karydakis surgery
- n Results of 112 patients operated between 2012 and 2019 were retrospectively evaluated.
- primaryOutcome evaluate the results of our patients who underwent Karydakis surgery
- result The complications included wound dehiscence by 10.2%, infection by 3.6%, and bleeding (hematome) by 7.1%. Four patients developed recurrence during follow up.
- result Postoperative length of stay in hospital was 2.1 days.
- followUp Thye patients were followed up for mean 28 months.
Pol Przegl Chir · PMID 33729169 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Strong et al. 2021
Patient decision-making and regret in pilonidal sinus surgery: a mixed-methods study
Healing time not reported here.Prospective cohortVery low qualityRelated question
20 people6 months
The abstract reports on regret and decision-making, not on how long wounds actually took to heal; it only notes a gap between what patients expected and what actually happened
Who was studied
people who had surgery for pilonidal sinus disease
Main outcome
decision regret and shared decision-making about surgery choice, not healing time itself
Quality
Small qualitative/mixed-methods study of 20 patients focused on decision regret, not designed to measure or report healing duration.
Limitations
Only 20 patients, focus is on psychological/decision outcomes rather than wound healing time; no actual healing durations are given.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 20 patients from 13 UK hospitals
- primaryOutcome Results were triangulated with those from structured survey instruments evaluating shared decision-making (SDM, best = 9) at baseline and decision regret (DR, most regret = 100) at 6 months.
- result Burden of wound care and the disparity between anticipated and actual recovery time were the main reasons for decision regret.
- n longitudinal semi-structured interviews at the time of surgery and 6 months later with 20 patients
Colorectal Dis · PMID 33645880 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Hollard-Kissel et al. 2021
[Perforating flap for covering sacro-coccygeal cysts: About 8 cases]
Healed completely by 2 years.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question
8 people2years
all patients healed completely with no recurrence at 2 years, though two had minor complications (a hematoma and a donor-site wound separation)
Who was studied
people with recurrent pilonidal (sacro-coccygeal) cysts who had already had multiple prior surgeries
What they received
a local perforator skin flap used to cover the wound after removing the recurrent cyst
Main outcome
whether the wound healed and whether the cyst came back
Quality
this is a very small series of only 8 patients with no comparison group, so it cannot reliably show typical healing time for pilonidal cysts in general.
Limitations
Very small sample size, no control group, patients were a selected group with recurrent disease after multiple prior operations, so findings may not reflect typical pilonidal cyst healing.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population A series of 8 cases of transposition flap covering based on parasacral perforators, in multi-operated patients.
- intervention A local fasciocutaneous perforating flap based on the parasacral arteries
- primaryOutcome the healing was complete and without recurrence in all patients at 2years
- result Despite two minor and resolving complications (a hematoma and a disunion of the donor sit) the healing was complete and without recurrence in all patients at 2years, with 100% satisfaction.
- n A series of 8 cases of transposition flap covering based on parasacral perforators, in multi-operated patients.
Ann Chir Plast Esthet · PMID 33589359 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Nassar et al. 2021
The internal pudendal artery turnover (IPAT) flap: A new, simple and reliable technique for perineal reconstruction
Most flaps healed by three monthsRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
38 peoplethree months
at three months, 37 of 38 flaps were fully healed, with no flap failures
Who was studied
patients with perineal defects (including severe pilonidal disease, after abdomino-perineal excision or pelvic exenteration) who had flap reconstruction
Main outcome
whether the reconstructed perineal wound/flap was fully healed
Quality
this is a small retrospective single-surgeon case series that mixes pilonidal disease with other, more complex perineal surgeries, so it does not isolate healing time for pilonidal disease alone.
Limitations
retrospective design, mixed population (pilonidal disease, abdomino-perineal excision, pelvic exenteration) with results not broken down by cause, single surgeon series
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population A cohort of 38 consecutive patients who underwent various reconstructions with the IPAT flap under a single surgeon were included between 2012 and 2019.
- population Perineal defects can be a reconstructive challenge following abdomino-perineal excision of the rectum, pelvic exenteration or the excision of severe pilonidal disease.
- primaryOutcome At three months, 37 flaps were fully healed.
- result At three months, 37 flaps were fully healed. There were no flap failures or partial flap losses.
- n A cohort of 38 consecutive patients who underwent various reconstructions with the IPAT flap under a single surgeon were included between 2012 and 2019.
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg · PMID 33455871 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Kanat et al. 2020
Use of Silver Nitrate Application as Mini-Invasive Treatment of Pilonidal Sinus Disease
Low recurrence after silver nitrate treatment.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
45 people2020
Recurrence occurred in 8.9% of patients; complications (abscess, redness, tissue death) occurred in 22.2%, with higher recurrence in those who developed abscesses
Who was studied
People treated with silver nitrate for pilonidal sinus disease (sacrococcygeal area)
What they received
Silver nitrate application with debridement
Main outcome
Cure/recurrence rate and complication rate after treatment
Quality
Retrospective chart review with no comparison group, modest sample size, and missing data in some patients, so it can't reliably show how long healing actually takes.
Limitations
Retrospective design, 11 patients excluded for incomplete records, no control group, and no specific healing-time data reported, only recurrence/complication rates.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n Among 56 patients who were treated with silver nitrate stick
- n 11 patients with incomplete hospital records were excluded from the study
- population sacrococcygeal PSD
- intervention silver nitrate application and debridement for sacrococcygeal PSD
- primaryOutcome Number of sinus pit orifices, and complications with silver nitrate application and debridement
- result recurrence occurred in 4 (8.9%) patients
- result Complications developed in 10 (22.2%) patients and included abscess, erythema, and necrosis in 5 (11.1%), 2 (4.4%), and 3 (6.6%) patients, respectively
Chirurgia (Bucur) · PMID 33378636 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Nechai et al. 2020
[Surgical treatment of pilonidal disease]
Closed surgery heals well, no exact timeframe givenNarrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2020
The review states that 'closed' surgical methods lead to good wound healing and cosmetic results, and that long-term results depend on which technique was used and how long patients were followed, but no specific healing time is given
Who was studied
People who had surgery for pilonidal cyst/sinus
Main outcome
How well and how long the surgical wound takes to heal
Quality
This is a narrative review comparing surgical techniques without reporting actual patient numbers or measured healing durations, so it carries little weight for answering how long healing takes.
Limitations
No quantitative data, sample size, or defined follow-up period are reported; conclusions are general statements rather than measured outcomes.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population comparison of the most common methods of surgical treatment of pilonidal disease
- primaryOutcome favorable wound healing and good cosmetic effect
- result «closed» methods of surgical treatment of pilonidal disease are effective and accompanied by favorable wound healing and good cosmetic effect. Long-term outcomes of «closed» techniques significantly depend on the choice of surgical treatment and follow-up period.
Khirurgiia (Mosk) · PMID 33301262 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Geraci et al. 2020
Recurrent sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease: the efficacy of minimal subcutaneous excision of the sinus and unroofing of pseudocystic cavity
Healed in about 3 weeks on averageProspective cohortLow quality
48 people7 years
Average healing time was about 23 days; 85% of patients remained healed without recurrence at 7 years follow-up
Who was studied
People with recurrent pilonidal cyst/sinus who had already had prior surgery for it
Main outcome
Time for the wound to heal after minimal excision surgery, and whether disease came back
Quality
Small single-group study without a comparison group, so healing times may not generalize to other treatments or settings.
Limitations
No control group; single surgical technique; small sample of 48 patients from one center.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population 48 consecutive patients with previous surgical excision and recurrent pilonidal disease underwent surgery
- n 48 consecutive patients with previous surgical excision and recurrent pilonidal disease underwent surgery
- primaryOutcome average healing time of 22.8 ± 15.3 days
- result an average healing time of 22.8 ± 15.3 days
- result Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that in 7 years of follow-up, 85% of patients healed without recurrence
Ann Ital Chir · PMID 33162406 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Bubenová et al. 2020
Pilonidal sinus disease: Karydakis flap procedure in our patients
Wound fully healed, no recurrence by a yearProspective cohortLow qualityRelated question
27 people12 months
At follow-up, all 27 patients had a fully healed, lateralized wound with no sign of new disease; the healing process was free of serious complications in 25 of 27, with seroma managed by puncture in the others
Who was studied
People treated with the Karydakis flap procedure for primary or recurrent pilonidal sinus disease
What they received
Karydakis flap surgery for pilonidal disease
Main outcome
Wound healing, complications, and recurrence after surgery
Quality
This was a small, single-center study with no comparison group and only short-term follow-up, so the healing timeline it reports may not generalize.
Limitations
Small sample (27 patients), no untreated or comparator group, and the abstract does not give an exact time-to-heal figure, only outcomes at scheduled follow-up visits.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population A total of 27 patients treated for primary and recurrent pilonidal disease using the Karydakis flap procedure
- intervention Karydakis flap procedure
- primaryOutcome We evaluated postoperative wound healing, complications and recurrence of the disease in a short-term follow-up period.
- result The result was a fully lateralized wound without any signs of a new disease in all patients.
- result The healing process was free of any serious complications in 25 patients. Seroma formation cases were managed by puncture in the outpatient setting.
- n A total of 27 patients
- followUp The median follow-up was 12 months.
Rozhl Chir · PMID 33032439 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Manigrasso et al. 2021
Early versus delayed endoscopic treatment of acute pilonidal abscess: a propensity score-matched analysis
Healing time not actually reportedRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
82 people1-year, 3-year, and 5-year follow-up
The abstract reports 'time to wound healing' was tracked as a secondary outcome, but gives no specific healing-time figures; it states recurrence was the same between early and delayed treatment, while patient satisfaction and health status were better with early treatment
Who was studied
People treated for an acute pilonidal abscess with an endoscopic procedure (VAAPS), either right away or after a delay
What they received
Early endoscopic treatment (VAAPS) done immediately for acute pilonidal abscess
Compared with
Delayed endoscopic treatment (VAAPS) done after initial incision and drainage
Main outcome
Rate of the abscess coming back (recurrence) at 1, 3, and 5 years
Quality
This is a retrospective, propensity-matched comparison of two treatment timings rather than a study designed to measure how long a pilonidal cyst takes to heal, and it does not report actual healing-time numbers.
Limitations
Retrospective design with propensity-score matching rather than randomisation, and the abstract does not give actual duration-to-healing data despite listing it as a secondary outcome.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population All consecutive patients with an acute pilonidal abscess since 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018 were enrolled
- intervention the early VAAPS group
- comparator the delayed VAAPS group
- primaryOutcome Primary outcomes were recurrence rate at 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year follow-up.
- result No differences were found in terms of recurrence in the two groups.
- n 82 patients were included in the final analysis (41 in each group)
- followUp recurrence rate at 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year follow-up
Int J Colorectal Dis · PMID 33011845 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Gohar et al. 2020
Assessment of the effect of platelet rich plasma on the healing of operated sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus by lay-open technique: a randomized clinical trial
open pilonidal wounds took 45 to 57 days to fully healRandomised trialModerate qualityRelated question
100 peopleuntil complete wound healing (up to about 57 days)
average complete healing time was 45 days with PRP versus 57 days with regular dressing
Who was studied
patients with pilonidal sinus disease treated by lay-open surgical excision
What they received
platelet-rich plasma injection into the wound after surgery
Compared with
regular wound dressing after surgery
Main outcome
time for the surgical wound to fully heal
Quality
it was a randomized trial with 100 patients but single-center and details on blinding and dropout are not given
Limitations
single center study, no mention of blinding of outcome assessors, and this tests PRP as an add-on rather than the natural healing course itself
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population One hundred patients suffering from PSD were randomly divided into two groups, they were treated by the lay-open method
- intervention group (B) was treated with PRP injection into the wound at 4 and 12 postoperative days
- comparator Group (A) was adopted the regular dressing postoperatively
- primaryOutcome Accelerated rate of wound healing was detected in group (B)
- result mean time of complete healing 45 ± 2.6 days in group B, while it was 57 ± 2.4 days in group A with a p-value of 0.001
- n One hundred patients suffering from PSD were randomly divided into two groups
BMC Surg · PMID 32962673 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Dogru et al. 2022
Long-term outcomes of crystallized phenol application for the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease
Healed in about 9 weeksRetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question
1,026 people2022
the mean recovery time was 8.9 weeks, with a success rate of 84.3% and a mean of 2.1 applications needed
Who was studied
patients with primary pilonidal sinus treated at an outpatient clinic
What they received
crystallized phenol treatment (CPT)
Main outcome
healing time and recurrence after treatment
Quality
this is a retrospective single-center case series without a comparison group, so healing time may be affected by unmeasured factors.
Limitations
No control group; single treatment type (chemical cauterization) rather than the standard surgical or open-wound management described in the question; retrospective design.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n One thousand and twenty-six patients who have primer pilonidal sinus were enrolled.
- population One thousand and twenty-six patients who have primer pilonidal sinus were enrolled.
- intervention crystallized phenol treatment (CPT)
- primaryOutcome Recurrence rate, application number, healing time, and factors affecting them were analyzed.
- result The success rate was 84.3%. The mean number of CPT applications was 2.1 and the mean recovery time was 8.9 weeks.
J Dermatolog Treat · PMID 32885705 · Read it on PubMed ↗

How we searchedThe exact query, the date it ran, and what came back — so you can run it yourself.

Searched: PubMed · ClinicalTrials.gov · Crossref on 2026-11-10
The exact search — paste this into PubMed to repeat it: ("Pilonidal Sinus"[Mesh]) AND ("Wound Healing"[Mesh] OR "Time Factors"[Mesh] OR "Recovery of Function"[Mesh] OR healing[tiab] OR recovery[tiab] OR "return to work"[tiab]); PubMed expanded that to: "Pilonidal Sinus"[MeSH Terms] AND ("Wound Healing"[MeSH Terms] OR "Time Factors"[MeSH Terms] OR "Recovery of Function"[MeSH Terms] OR "healing"[Title/Abstract] OR "recovery"[Title/Abstract] OR "return to work"[Title/Abstract])
What came back: 828 records found · 200 read · 175 answered the question
Included: Human, animal or laboratory studies reporting an outcome relevant to the question
Excluded: Records about a different condition or intervention
Studies mainly about Untreated pilonidal cyst natural course without any intervention
Studies mainly about Hidradenitis suppurativa
Studies mainly about Perianal or perirectal abscess unrelated to pilonidal disease
Records reporting no outcome
Retracted publications, which are listed but excluded from every count
Limits: Details were read from abstracts, not full papers, so anything reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured here.
Fields were read from abstracts, not full text, so detail reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured.
Evidence strength is adapted from the GRADE framework. It is not a GRADE assessment and was not produced by a GRADE panel.

828records came back from the search
200were read
175actually answered the question

Risks and safetyReported side effects and who should be careful.

A meaningful minority of wounds have delayed or prolonged healing regardless of technique, sometimes needing extra dressing care for weeks longer than typical.
The cyst or sinus can come back after the wound has fully healed; this happens more often with some techniques and with longer follow-up, in some cohorts affecting over a quarter of patients by several years.
Wounds that are stitched closed can reopen (dehiscence) during healing; one trial found this happened in 42% of closed wounds.

Why people askWhat brings people to this question.

People who have just been diagnosed or just had a drainage or surgery want to know what is 'normal' so they can judge whether their own healing is on track.
Time off work, school, or sport depends on healing, so people want a realistic timeline before deciding on or after a procedure.
Some people hope a small cyst might resolve without needing surgery at all and are searching for reassurance that waiting is an option.
Pain, discharge, and uncertainty about wound care make people want a clear endpoint to look forward to.

Common questionsShort answers, drawn from the same studies.

How long is recovery from pilonidal cyst removal?: It depends on the technique. Minimally invasive or laser procedures typically let people return to work within days to about two weeks, while bigger flap or excision surgery can take longer, and full wound closure can lag behind return-to-activity by weeks.
How long does it take for a pilonidal cyst open wound to heal?: When the wound is left open to heal on its own (secondary intention) after excision, studies report average healing times of roughly 8 to 15 weeks, with nearly all wounds closed by around three months but some taking longer.
How long does it take for a pilonidal cyst to heal after it's drained?: Only one small study in this review directly compared drainage with excision, and it did not report an exact number of days — it found drainage healed faster than excision but came with a much higher chance of the cyst returning (54% vs 19%).
How long does a pilonidal cyst take to heal on its own, without any treatment?: This has not been studied. Every study we found followed people after some treatment — surgery, laser, drainage, or a chemical like phenol. There is no published evidence on what happens if a pilonidal cyst is left completely untreated.
Does it matter if the wound is stitched closed or left open?: Yes — studies consistently find open wounds (left to heal by secondary intention) take much longer to close than wounds that are stitched or reconstructed with a flap, sometimes twice as long or more, though open wounds may have different recurrence trade-offs.

This is information, not advice

This page summarises published research. It cannot tell you what is happening in your own body, and evidence changes. If something is bleeding, painful, or new, it is worth being looked at — that is a different question from the one on this page, and a better one to bring to a consultation.

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Automated evidence review — PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Crossref. Search strategy, grading rules and the checks that must pass before anything publishes were written by Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, colon & rectal surgery, Beverly Hills. The pages themselves are compiled by software running that method and are not read one by one before publication — saying otherwise would be the one claim here that could not be checked.

Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS · 435 N. Bedford Dr., Suite 308, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · 424.279.8222

Educational information — not medical advice.